Category: Conservation
Portrait found underneath Ecce Homo
February 10 2025

Picture: news.artnet.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Artnet have published a rather interesting news story regarding a piece of scientific research undertaken on an Ecce Homo by the Andreas Pittas Art Characterization Laboratories in Cyprus. Surprisingly, x-ray results have shown that the composition, a version of Titian's famous Ecce Homo (or Christ Shown to the People) of c.1565-70 which exists in Saint Louis and the Prado, was painted on top of a portrait.
The question remains as to why this occurred and how this affects its dating (although, I think costume historians will be able to work out what has happened here with relative ease), yet, according to the article:
Bakirtzis [APAC director Nikolas Bakirtzis] added that Titian effectively painted the new composition directly onto the portrait, which he said, “points to an experienced, confident artistic hand.”
The tone of the two paintings is markedly different. One is a portrait of an unknown professional man, and the other is a narrative scene from a known episode from the passions of Christ.
“They were intended for different clients and audiences. Unfortunately, this is as far as we can go until further research allows us to either identify the depicted man or we find ways to date the paintings,” Bakirtzis said. “We cannot really estimate how much earlier the first painting is. Any suggestion remains hypothetical and based on stylistic observations.”
The painting and results are on display at the Limassol Municipal Arts Center in Cyprus until 10th March 2025, in case you'd like to go and have a look for yourselves.
Louvre Conserves Van Dyck's Charles I
February 7 2025

Picture: Louvre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
C2RMF (Center And Search Restoration Musées De France) have published an article on the recent restoration of Van Dyck's Charles I à la chasse. The article features a brief history of the various campaigns of restoration in the past, followed by some nice zoomable images.
As it happens, I was lecturing in Paris this week and was blown away by the freshness of the colours. What a striking difference compared to its appearance in the RA's Charles I exhib back in 2017.
On the Same Wavelength: Art, Science and Conservation at the Nasher Museum of Art
February 5 2025

Picture: today.duke.edu
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Nasher Museum of Art in Durham, North Carolina, have just opened an interesting sounding exhibition entitled On the Same Wavelength: Art, Science and Conservation.
According to the website linked above:
Technical art history brings together art historians, conservators and scientists to gain deeper insights into works of art and the methods and intentions of their makers. A new exhibit opening Jan. 30 at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke, “On the Same Wavelength: Art, Science and Conservation,” explores the challenges and many accomplishments of these efforts.
Using microscopes, specialized cameras, scanners, and different wavelengths of light, the team examined objects from the Nasher Museum’s permanent collection, ranging from ancient American ceramics to a contemporary artwork made from found plastic.
Through the ever-evolving lens of technical art history, On the Same Wavelength presents the discoveries about these objects’ materials, original uses, and the techniques used to create them. This exhibition also highlights the role of the museum in navigating challenges related to an object’s condition, display and evolution over time because of aging and conservation.
The show will run until 22nd June 2025.
US Embassy in Paris sends George Washington to be Conserved
February 4 2025

Picture: US Embassy, Paris
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The US Embassy in Paris is sending their portrait of George Washington to France’s Center for Research and Restoration of Museum of France (C2RMF) to be conserved. According to the article linked above, when the painting was bequeathed to the US State Department in 1989 it was believed to be a straightforward copy. Only when technical analysis was undertaken in 2022 was it declared a work by Charles Willson Peale in full.
A New Renaissance for the Louvre
January 30 2025
Picture: NBC News
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
There has been a lot of coverage in the press recently regarding President Macron's announcements regarding the future of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The headline stories of the announcements are expansions to deal with increased visitor numbers, a new separate home for the Mona Lisa, and increased entrance fees for non-EU visitors (ie. British visitors will have to pay more for entry).
Royal Collection conserve Elizabeth I Allegory
January 16 2025

Picture: Royal Collection Trust
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Royal Collection Trust has shared news on Instagram of the recent* conservation of Hans Eworth's Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses. The results are rather pleasing, as you can see above.
* - Alas, I can't work out exactly how recently though!
Conservation Tours of St Bartholomew's Hospital
January 13 2025
Video: St Bartholomew's Hospital
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
St Bartholomew's Hospital in London are running a limited number of Conservation Tours during the end of January, showing visitors the current progress of work. The tour includes going up on a scaffold, including some insights into the conservation of Hogarth's famous paintings on the staircases. The tours cost £11.55 to attend.
According to the description of the tours:
Join us on this tour to explore the rich history, architecture and people involved in the craftsmanship of the James Gibbs' Great Hall. The tour will highlight the conservation work to rescue and rejuvenate the Grade 1 listed building, including the staircase decorated by William Hogarth.
Get an insider's look at the conservation and restoration work being done to protect this historically significant building.
Please note, this tour involves accessing a scaffolding viewing deck. There are 31 steps on the staircase to reach the deck. The paintings in the Hogarth staircase are partially obstructed by scaffolding as our Conservation Team work on them.
Leonardo's Sala delle Asse Fresco to be Restored by 2026
January 6 2025

Picture: Wikipedia
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Italy that a restoration project on Leonardo da Vinci's frescos for the Sala delle Asse at Castello Sforzesco in Milan are in the final preparation stages. The final donations to reach the 914,925.25 EUR required to complete the work are being raised. It is hoped that the conservation treatment will be completed in time for the Winter Olympics in February 2026.
Luca Signorelli's Saint Cecilia Altarpiece Conserved
January 6 2025
Video: Retesole TV Umbria
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Luca Signorelli's Saint Cecilia Altarpiece, one of the star attractions of Pinacoteca comunale di Città di Castello, has been conserved and redisplayed to the public.
Louvre conserves Andrea Solario Picture
December 21 2024

Picture: Louvre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Louvre in Paris have shared news of their latest exciting conservation project, the cleaning of Andrea Solario's Virgin and Child. Dated to 1507-10, the transformation of these vivid electric colours is quite something to behold.
All eyes on which paintings the Louvre will clean in 2025. Perhaps they're gearing up to tackle one of their particularly darkened Leonardos?
Massimo Stanzione's Presentation of the Virgin Conserved
December 21 2024

Picture: sabapmetropolitanana.cultura.gov.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Italy that Massimo Stanzione's Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple, a painting which had originally formed part of a cycle in the chiesa dell’Annunziata di Giugliano in Campania, has been conserved and put on view for the public. Dating to 1618, the work will be featured in a special display at the Palazzo Reale in Naples. Alas, I can't find a good picture of the whole canvas, so, this will have to do for now!
Research Project Reveals Giorgione in Alte Pinakothek
December 21 2024

Picture: Alte Pinakothek
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Alte Pinakothek in Munich has revealed the results of a research project into the following Double Portrait, which recent technical and art historical analysis has shown to be a rare work by the Venetian painter Giorgione. The picture had been hanging in a gallery in the city's Residenz, where many overflow artworks from the museum are kept, until a recent exhibition on Venetian art prompted further investigation. Click on the link above to view some very interesting x-rays and infrared images, which show that the composition was reworked several times during its creation.
Vatican Restores Apollo Belvedere
December 12 2024
Video: AZ News
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm a little late to the news that the Vatican have recently unveiled their famous Apollo Belvedere statue after a 5-year restoration project.
According to Reuters:
Restoration experts spent years working on the "Apollo Belvedere", repairing fractures in its knees and legs, cleaning the entire cream-coloured statue with lasers, and installing a carbon fibre pole anchored to its base to increase stability.
"This type of restoration... is the expression of what we want the Vatican Museums to be," said Barbara Jatta, the Museums' director. "A balance of tradition, linguistics and study, with a gaze that looks to the future."
Orazio Gentileschi conserved at The National Gallery
December 6 2024
Video: The National Gallery
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The National Gallery in London have just today published the following video presenting new insights into Orazio Gentileschi's The Finding of Moses resulting from recent conservation and cleaning.
Ribera's St John the Baptist Conserved
November 28 2024
Video: Patrimonio Nacional
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Spain that the Real Monasterio de la Encarnación in Madrid have recently conserved Jusepe Ribera's St John the Baptist. As the video explains, the removal of much yellowed varnish has revealed many hidden details particularly in the background of the painting.
Van Dyck's Andalusian Horse at Christie's
November 25 2024
Video: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's have published the following film providing an interesting overview of Sir Anthony Van Dyck's Andalusian Horse which is coming up in their December sales in London.
The Enigma of Watteau's Pierrot
November 14 2024
Video: Louvre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Louvre in Paris published this rather fascinating video a couple of weeks ago dedicated to the enigma of Jean-Antoine Watteau's famous Pierrot. The video also examines the recent conservation of the painting, which appears to have been rather visually transformative.
The museum's current exhibition on the work, entitled A New Look at Watteau, runs until 3rd February 2025.
Apsley House conserve 'Attributed to' Cignani
November 9 2024

Picture: Apsley House
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Apsley House, the historic London residence of the Dukes of Wellington, have revealed on social media the recent conservation of a painting depicting Venus and Adonis which is currently 'Attributed to' Carlo Cignani. Their recent posts suggest that now that the painting has been cleaned their thoughts will turn towards whether this is really by Cignani or not. We'll have to wait to find out the results, it seems!
Girolamo Genga Altarpiece Conserved
September 23 2024

Picture: ansa.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
More news from Italy that Girolamo Genga's The Cesena Altarpiece has been restored after a three-year conservation project. Painted between 1513 and 1518, the project was undertaken onsite at the Church of Sant'Agostino and consisted of various scientific scans alongside the work undertaken on the painting itself.
Vasari Ceiling Paintings Reunited
September 3 2024
Video: Antenna Tre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice have just opened a new display, reuniting a set of ceiling paintings originally completed by Giorgio Vasari for the Palazzo Corner Spinelli. The nine works, depicting allegories of Charity, Faith, Hope, Justice and Patience, were dispersed at the end of the 18th century.