Changes Revealed in Anti-Slavery Painting During Conservation

A digital infrared camera has unveiled significant changes made by artist Richard Andsell in his 1861 painting, The Hunted Slaves, which is currently undergoing conservation as part of the renovation of Liverpool's International Slavery Museum.

The painting, measuring over 10 feet wide and nearly 6.5 feet high, depicts a man and woman battling a pack of dogs, symbolizing their escape from slavery. Conservators noted that the infrared technology revealed the artist's drawing modifications, which are valuable for understanding the artwork's development.

Andsell originally raffled the painting to support unemployed mill workers, and it was later donated to Liverpool Town Hall. The museum's lead conservator highlighted that the painting, created during the American Civil War, reflects support for the anti-slavery northern states. The museum is set to reopen in 2029 after extensive renovations.