Don't you think it would be fascinating to x-ray the old oil paintings and see what they painted out? Painters used to- and still do- recycle their canvases for economy or for correcting boo-boos or for just plain not liking the first attempt at a creative urge with the brush.The painting above was painted over and, as it says below, they suspect it was the childrens' mother sitting in the chair that was painted out and the dog put in her place because she died before the painting was finished.
My thought was... wouldn't you want to keep her in the painting even more in that case? For the young children to remember her... since in those days there were no Polaroids or digital shots of her? What do you think?
I am sure you all know this story...Sampson and Delilah.
See the scissors in her hand?
