Caption

Art forgery detection. Dr Andreas Burmester stands beside an X-ray of the painting Profane love (Vanity) by Titian (1514-1576). X-rays are used to detect forgeries by penetrating the various layers of paint to reveal hidden details. A painting may have been done over the top of an older image to give the impression of authenticity. With this original work however, the X-ray image shows how the painting progressed. For example the artist changed the position of the woman's head, and both heads are visible on the X-ray. Dr Burmester heads the Doerner Institute in Munich, Germany. The Institute specializes in art forgery detection by imaging and chemical analysis.