Johannes Vermeer’s Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window (1657–59) was recently undergoing restoration when conservators made a groundbreaking revelation. Forty years ago, X-rays had discovered an earlier version of the painting was dominated by a large image of Cupid that comes in the form of a painting within the painting. It was assumed that Vermeer himself had painted over the figure before the work was finished.

However, recent technology has shown that the Cupid image was overpainted long after the artist’s death. The painting by the Dutch Golden Age master, one of only 35 paintings attributed to him, is considered one of the most famous paintings of all time and is one of the crown jewels of Dresden’s city collection. It has been decided that Vermeer’s Cupid will be restored to the work.