Restoration work wipes smile off the face of Dutch vegetable seller

Painting reclaims former glory as English Heritage rights the wrongs of 19th-century additions

At some point in the last 400 years a painting restorer probably decided the Dutch vegetable seller was far too glum and should be smiling. Now it has been put right and she is once again enigmatic.

English Heritage revealed the results on Friday of a two-year conservation project to reveal the true glory of a mysterious, unsigned painting that has been in its stores for more than 60 years.