Combining physics with chemistry, scientists have discovered an early Van Gogh picture that was painted under his 'Patch of Grass' artwork. The image of the discovered picture was published in a scientific magazine today.

Joris Dik from the Delft University and Koen Janssens from the University of Antwerp have devised a new method that reveals images potentially hidden behind paintings. The method uses high intensity x-rays that are created using a particle accelerator. These x-rays are used to discover the metals that were used in the colors. Based on this information, scientists can then determine the exact colors used to create the artwork.

Other methods relying on x-rays for discovering hidden images were devised in the past too, but those methods were capable of showing only black and white reproductions.

The painting that was uncovered using the new technique is a portrait of a woman, which experts think might have modeled for the artist for his series of works that culminated with his first masterpiece, 'The Potato Eaters.'

Experts think that about one third of the artist's paintings hide earlier works. During his life, Van Gogh often found himself in extreme poverty and painted on used canvases in order to spare money.

'Patch of Grass' was painted by Van Gogh while he was staying with his brother Theo in Paris. The image that was discovered underneath this canvass confirms the theory according to which the painter used to mail his early works to his brother in Paris, where he had a better chance of selling them.