National Trust scans Thomas More painting at Nostell Priory to reveal its secrets

The National Trust is using advanced imaging technology on a rare 16th-century painting of Sir Thomas More and his family at Nostell Priory, aiming to uncover its secrets in a first-ever public heritage science demonstration in the UK. The 2.5-metre by 3.4-metre portrait, a faithful copy of a lost Holbein original destroyed in a 1752 fire, will be scanned using MA-XRF and infrared reflectography over two weeks starting today. Experts hope to determine its exact date, artist, and alterations. The painting depicts More, executed by Henry VIII in 1535, with his family at home. The public can watch the analysis live, with results expected next year.