El Greco Masterpiece at Nelson-Atkins to be Restored as Part of Bank of America 2013 Art Conservation Project

Kansas City, MO. Jan. 29, 2014

Global Program Connects People and Communities to Culture and History

Image caption: Domenikos Theotokopoulos, called El Greco. Spanish, 1541–1614. The Penitent Magdalene, ca. 1580–1585. Oil on canvas. Purchase: Nelson Trust, 30-35

Bank of America has announced that it will provide funding, through its global Art Conservation Project, to conserve The Penitent Magdalene, which is among the artist El Greco’s most precious works, at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. This conservation work is one of 25 projects in 17 countries around the world that was selected for grant funding in 2013. The program has funded conservation at Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Guggenheim in New York, the Tokyo National Museum, and the Johannesburg Art Gallery. The painting was last restored in 1949.

“We are delighted to be able to restore this important painting with the generous support of the Bank of America Art Conservation Project grant,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Director & CEO of the Nelson-Atkins. “This funding makes it possible for future generations to learn from and enjoy this El Greco masterpiece, and also allow it to travel to Toledo, Spain in 2014, when the 400th anniversary of El Greco’s death will be celebrated.”

After careful examination of the painting and the study of comparable paintings by El Greco, the conservation work was begun in Spring 2013 by Scott Heffley, Senior Conservator, Paintings, at the Nelson-Atkins.

“The Penitent Magdalene needed some careful attention and repair, with lots of over-paint covering damages that occurred to the painting perhaps hundreds of years ago,” said Heffley. “I’ve been able to remove various campaigns of past restoration work down and am now down to the remaining original painting. Much of this cleaning involved the carefully scratching off of old restoration using a microscope and a scalpel. I will soon begin the process of rebuilding the damaged parts so that El Greco’s original intent can resurface.”

That process is expected to take months.

“As art conservation consumes ever greater portions of tightened museum budgets, the need for private arts funding has become even more critical,” said Jack Ovel, Kansas City Market President, Bank of America. “We are honored to support the Nelson-Atkins and help preserve The Penitent Magdalene.”

Including this year’s recipients, the Bank of America Art Conservation Project will have funded the conservation of more than 58 projects in 26 countries. The program was introduced in 2010 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and expanded to the Americas, Asia and Australia in 2012. All of these global regions will continue to receive grant funding in 2013.

“Art has a unique ability to connect people and communities and to help economies thrive,” said Rena DeSisto, Global Arts and Culture Executive at Bank of America. “The works of art we have selected as part of the 2013 Art Conservation Project can provide a lasting reflection of people and history. As a company with clients in over 100 countries, we are funding the preservation of these important works to contribute to the cultural enrichment and advancement of future generations.”

Bank of America’s support for the arts is diverse and global, and includes loans of art to museums at no cost, sponsorships, grants to arts organizations for arts education, and the preservation of cultural treasures.

Bank of America Corporate Social Responsibility

Bank of America’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients and employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing and giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. As part of these efforts, employee volunteers across the company contribute their time, passion and expertise to address issues in communities where they live and work. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community.

For more Bank of America news, visit the Bank of America newsroom.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The Nelson-Atkins in Kansas City is recognized nationally and internationally as one of America’s finest art museums. The Nelson-Atkins serves the community by providing access and insight into its renowned collection of more than 33,500 art objects and is best known for its Asian art, European and American paintings, photography, modern sculpture, and new American Indian and Egyptian galleries. Housing a major art research library and the Ford Learning Center, the Museum is a key educational resource for the region. The institution-wide transformation of the Nelson-Atkins has included the 165,000-square-foot Bloch Building expansion and renovation of the original 1933 Nelson-Atkins Building.

The Nelson-Atkins is located at 45th and Oak Streets, Kansas City, MO. Hours are Wednesday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Thursday/Friday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon–5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free to everyone. For museum information, phone 816.751.1ART (1278) or visit nelson-atkins.org/.