Thanks Charles. Really interesting thoughts.

One thing I would say is that there is a long history of audiences being shocked at artwork restorations, especially when they remove centuries worth of ageing. The new luminosity can seem garish at first - the Sistine Chapel restorations in the 1980s is a good example.

I do agree with you about the washed out feel of the restored version. Unfortunately, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the photo reproduction (I'm in the UK and haven't been able to see the painting yet).