Want to see what a painting looks like before it is restored? Take a look at this interactive feature.

The Restoration of a Velázquez

After technical studies and a yearlong restoration, curators and conservators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art now believe that a full-length portrait of Philip IV that has been in the Met's collection since 1914 is by Velázquez and not his workshop. The attribution reverses a finding made in 1973 when museum officials downgraded this portrait, along with 299 other old master paintings, saying they were either by the artist's workshop or a follower.

For the full story and interactive feature, please visit the NY Times:  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/12/18/arts/20101218-velazquez.html?WT.mc_id=AR-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-PIR-122110-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click