What's the secret behind this curtain? | Art Institute Shorts @artinstitutechi

Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago

What mineral did conservators discover in this painting? (Hint: It can be used in jewelry or paint.)
Curator Jacquelyn Coutré and conservation scientist Giovanni Verri tell the story of how two artists worked together to create a stunning painting using pigment derived from lapis lazuli.

Image: Adriaen van der Spelt. Frans van Mieris. "Trompe-l’Oeil Still Life with a Flower Garland and a Curtain," 1658. Wirt D. Walker Fund. On view in Gallery 212.

Whats the secret behind this curtain? | Art Institute Shorts

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