Tucked away above the galleries and buzz of daily museum life sits an orderly studio that is home to the Paintings Conservation Department. It is here, in a room awash in natural light, full of interesting tools and brushes, that science and art come together to breath new life into many of the Museum’s precious works of art. With the reinstalled American Galleries opening in mid-April, Conservators Scott Heffley and Mary Schafer graciously invited staff up for a "behind the scenes" look at the inner workings of their studio and the projects they’ve undertaken in preparation for this much-anticipated occasion.
Our tour included an in-depth look at John Gadsby Chapman’s A Lazy Fisherman. Under Scott’s skilled hand years of grime and multiple layers of varnish have been carefully removed. We learned that all of his repairs are visible when the painting is viewed under black light. This feature makes it easy to determine the work of the conservator versus that of the original artist. As Scott moved the lamp across the canvas three months of painstaking work became instantly recognizable—the fixed tears in the bottom left corner, the area of inpainting beneath the young fisherman’s rocky perch and repaired abrasions across the surface of the water.
Mary then shared the fascinating story of George and Emma Eastman by Calvin Balis. The work was commissioned by the family in 1850, sold as a play prop in 1931 and purchased by the Nelson-Atkins in 1933. It had numerous areas in need of repair, including a curious teal-colored section near Emma’s head. After thorough analysis under a microscope Mary determined it was oil paint, which is unsafe to remove because of the permanent bond it forms with the original paint. Using a series of glazes she was able to perfectly match the colors of the surrounding hills.
Let me just say that, in person, the restored works are simply stunning (click on the linked titles to view "before" images). A Lazy Fisherman and George and Emma Eastman have never looked better thanks to Scott and Mary’s tremendous talents. If this preview is any indication, the unveiling of the reinstalled American Galleries will be, simply put, spectacular!