Hidden Easter Eggs in Classic Works of Art That You Had No Idea Were There

Trying to find hidden meaning in the things from our collective past is nothing new, especially when it comes to some of the more recognizable works of art that the world has seen. Just ask Dan Brown — the guy has made millions off of finding tiny details in Leonardo da Vinci’s work.

But da Vinci isn’t the only artist out there who liked hiding things in his paintings. Here are some of the coolest Easter eggs in famous art.

Portrait of a Lady with a Unicorn, Raphael

For a lot of years, it wasn’t even clear who was actually responsible for Portrait of a Lady with a Unicorn.

The original, which was painted in 1505-06, has been changed several times, including once in the mid-17th century, when an unknown artist turned the subject into St. Catherine, covering her shoulders and putting a wheel and palm frond in her lap.

About That Unicorn, Though

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During a restoration in 1934, that wheel and palm frond were actually found to be hiding a unicorn. 25 years later, it was discovered the unicorn used to be a dog.

Although divided, common belief among scholars is that the painting was originally commissioned for a wedding (the dog represents fidelity). When the nuptials were called off, it was replaced with a unicorn (representing chastity and virginity).

Bacchus, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

This 1595 portrait of the Roman god of wine, fertility, and “ritual madness” looks like a lot of other 16th century portraits. There’s semi-nudity (but not in an overtly sexual way), a bowl of random fruit, and — of course — a carafe of wine.

Wine as a Mirror

It wasn’t until 1922 that Caravaggio’s miniature ode to himself was first discovered. A closer inspection of the carafe in the bottom lefthand corner reveals a tiny portrait of the artist, which was confirmed in 2009 using modern tech methods.