Art forgery detection. Dr Andreas Burmester attaches X-ray plates of a suspected forged painting to a light box for examination. Together the four plates provide complete coverage of the painting. X-rays are used to detect forgeries by penetrating the various layers of paint to reveal hidden details. A painting may have been done over the top of an older image to give the impression of authenticity. X-rays can also show the techniques involved in producing a painting. Dr Andreas Burmester heads the Doerner Institute in Munich, Germany. The Institute specializes in the detection of art forgeries by various imaging techniques and chemical analyses.