Molten lava, volcanic ash, modern grime, salt, humidity - this ancient painting of a Roman woman has been through it all.
But a new type of high-resolution X-ray technology is helping scientists discover just how stunning the original portrait once was, element by element.
The technique could help conservators more precisely restore the image, and other ancient artworks, to their former glory.
In one of the first field studies of its kind, researchers from the Pratt Institute in New York used a recently developed portable macro X-ray fluorescence instrument.
With it, they scanned and analysed a painting of a young woman found in the ancient city of Herculaneum.
This new instrument allows scientists to examine a painting without having to move it or have the device come into contact with the artwork.
It can produce maps of the elements, such as iron, lead and copper, contained in the painting.
Dr Eleonora Del Federico, from Pratt Institute's School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, speculates that when the picture was first uncovered, it was probably stunning.
But a few decades of exposure to the elements has wrought incalculable damage to it.
Speaking to MailOnline, Dr Del Federico said: 'This is as far as we know the very first study of a fresco painting in situ and on site at its original setting.
'What is most remarkable from my point of view is that the portrait is so degraded that it is insignificant.
'In fact, many books on Herculaneum about this house don't even mention her.
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