A major work by French painter Paul Delaroche, thought to have been virtually destroyed during a World War II German air raid on London in 1941, has been unrolled and found to be in good condition."Charles I Insulted by Cromwell's Soldiers," depicting the British king shortly before his execution in 1649, was damaged in a May 1941 bombing. The 1837 canvas was taken down, rolled up and moved to a country house in Scotland, where it has remained unseen for nearly 70 years.
Representatives of the National Gallery in London and the National Gallery of Scotland asked if they could inspect the work ahead of an exhibition on Delaroche to be held in London from Feb. 24-May 23 next year.
They discovered about 200 tears caused by shrapnel but, contrary to expectations, the painting was "almost entirely legible and has lost none of its emotive intensity."
Art must prevail from destruction, as it seems that we humans are not capable of resolving internal issues among us. At least, bits and pieces from our past will be seen by our descendants.
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