An historic portrait of Canada's first prime minister is surrounded by mystery after experts revealed Sir John A. Macdonald is not the only person painted on the canvas.
The portrait was willed to Library and Archives Canada by the late prime minister's daughter in-law in the 1940s. However, when restoration began on the painting in the 1980s, an infrared scan determined someone else shared the canvass with one of Canada's founding fathers.
"He was obscuring another painting, another woman underneath," said Lilly Koltun of the Portrait Gallery of Canada. "You get this rather surreal effect of four eyes."
The portrait of Macdonald was painted early in his career and experts say it's not known why the artist painted over the original portrait.
"She is going to remain the lady of mystery forever," Koltun told CTV Ottawa.
The painting -- and the scan -- are currently stored with thousands of others in a vault at Library and Archives Canada. At select times of the year, limited visitors can tour the vault.
"It doesn't belong to us. It belongs to Canadians and we are just the trustees and our role is to make these available," said Koltun.
Until the federal government selects a location for a new portrait gallery, the painting -- and its secrets -- will remain in storage.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Natalie Pierosara
