The warship Vasa is swarming with Roman warriors, friendly mermaids, irascible lions and Greek gods. Just like the Vasa's hull, the sculptures are now a dark brown due to their time in the water and the conservation process.

However, with the help of research, a different picture of the ship is emerging. Hundreds of microscopic paint fragments have been analysed and interpreted over a 12-year period.

The research has now reached a stage where we are able to reconstruct the painting of around 15 key sculptures, which is why we can now confidently say that we know the principles applied when painting the ship. Strong, clear colours, in some places supplemented with gilding, were characteristic of the Vasa’s colouring.