The Fate of Rembrandt's Danaë

One of the most celebrated of Rembrandt's works, and among the most beautiful examples of European painting, the Danaë was almost irreparably damaged in 1985 when a mentally deranged man twice knifed and then splashed sulfuric acid on the painting in front of a stunned tour group. Acquired by Catherine the Great in 1772, it was one of the jewels of her collection. After the shocking act of vandalism, the canvas, completed by the Dutch master in 1636, was a mess of brown spots and splashes. The process of restoration began the same day, when after consulting chemists, the Hermitage restorers washed the canvas with water to stop the chemical reaction. It then took 12 years to reconstruct the picture, which was finally placed on view again in 1997. It's now covered with armored glass to prevent any further damage. The painting isn't 100 percent Rembrandt anymore, but the original spirit of the work remains intact.