Category: Conservation
El Greco in the mirror: two paintings in dialogue at the Castel Gandolfo
March 11 2026
Picture: villepontificie.va
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Vatican Museums are opening a new exhibition at the Castel Gandolfo on Saturday (14th March) dedicated to the recent conservation of a painting by El Greco of the Redeemer, a work which was gifted to Pope Paul VI in 1967. The work had previously been covered by extensive and poor quality overpainting. Research has also revealed two other compositions underneath the paint surface. It will be displayed alongside a St Francis by the same artist.
Scientific Investigations of Rosalba Carriera's Pastels
March 10 2026
Video: Save Venice
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Save Venice have published the following video providing some behind the scenes access of recent scientific investigations of pastels by Rosalba Carriera undertaken at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice.
According to their YouTube video post:
At the center of the research are thirteen portraits—nine by Rosalba and four attributed to her school—executed in pastel on blue paper. These notably fragile and delicate materials make any type of conservation treatment particularly complex.
To address this challenge, the Accademia is undertaking a comprehensive program of investigations to determine how to best safeguard and treat these remarkable pieces. The results of the research will guide the conservation of Rosalba’s pastels in Venice and provide an opportunity for discussion and comparison for other museum institutions and restorers who may face similar issues.
Support from Save Venice makes this work possible, funding the scientific analysis, the acquisition of a new ER-FTIR Spectrometer, the involvement of three young researchers specialized in conservation chemistry and diagnostics, and consultation with leading pastel conservators from the U.K. and Switzerland.
Michelangelo's Last Judgement Up Close
March 2 2026
Video: @Vaticanmuseums
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Vatican Museums have published this rather pleasing video of the continuing conservation of Michelangelo's Last Judgement. The details, made possible by a scaffold, are quite spectacular to admire even in this short segment.
Luigi Amidani Conserved in Parma
March 2 2026
Picture: finestresullarte.info
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Italy that Luigi Amidani's Madonna and Child with Saints Francis of Assisi, Agnes and Genesius, in the collection of the Pilotta Monumental Complex in Parma, has been conserved. Painted in 1619, possibly for the Parma church of Santa Maria, the work was transferred to the Accademia in 1816 and later the National Gallery of Parma.
El Greco's Martyrdom of Saint Maurice to be Restored
February 27 2026
Video: El Debate
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Here's a video showing the transportation of El Greco's The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice from the Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial near Madrid to conservation studios ready for treatment. This latest campaign of restoration, undertaken by Rafael Alonso, is expected to take several months before its redisplay and eventual return to the monastery.
Donatello's Bronze Doors Restored
February 27 2026
Video: alanews
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Italy that Donatello's bronze doors, part of the fixtures of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence, have been restored. Commissioned by the Medici between 1440-42, the work was undertaken by Opificio delle Pietre Dure.
Prado Conserve Van Orley
February 25 2026
Video: Prado via Instagram
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Prado in Madrid have published the following video on their Instagram page regarding the recent restoration of Bernaert van Orley's The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John.
Conservation Webinars at Lincoln Conservation
February 25 2026
Picture: Lincoln Conservation
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Lincoln Conservation, based within the University of Lincoln, started a new webinar series at the end of 2025. The series covers lots of interesting topics and February's edition (on the 27th of this month) will be on the curious subject of 'Case studies in Mimetic Retouching and the Art of Texture Replication'. Click on the link above for more details regarding ticket prices and how to log on to watch.
Spinello Aretino Triptych Restored
February 24 2026
Video: Siena News
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence have unveiled their recently conserved triptych by Spinello Aretino. The most recent campaign of restoration, which began in 2024, will be the focus of a temporary exhibition in the gallery which runs from today until 11th May 2026.
Technical Analysis & Restoration of Dieppe Courbet
February 18 2026
Picture: C2RMF
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm slow to news from last year that a conservation and restoration project of Gustave Courbet's portrait of Paul Ansout, owned by the Dieppe Château-musée, has revealed several hidden secrets. This includes recent x-rays which have revealed a painted over sketch of the sitter which the artist had abandoned and restarted once the canvas was flipped around. Click on the link above to read more.
Sistine Chapel Last Judgement being Restored
February 4 2026
Video: Rome Reports in English
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Sistine Chapel's Last Judgement by Michelangelo, part of the tourist route in the Vatican which approximately 6.7m visitors see every year, is undergoing a three month 'restoration' project. Scaffolding has been erected, and a reproduction on cloth put in its stead, in order to remove 'a widespread whitish veil' from the fresco. Presumably, considering the relatively short time scale involved, conservators will be dusting!
Colantonio Restored
February 3 2026
Picture: capodimonte.cultura.gov.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Naples that Colantonio's St. Francis delivering the rule to the Franciscan orders has been restored. The picture, which is in the collection of the Museo di Capodimonte, has been conserved as part of commemorations of the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis. Click on the link above to see more details supplied by the museum.
Tintoretto's Genesis at the Gallerie dell'Accademia
February 3 2026
Picture: Gallerie dell'Accademia
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice will be opening an exhibition focusing on the recently restored Genesis paintings by Tintoretto later this month (following on from the 2025 show in Cincinnati). The display will focus on learnings from the restoration project and new research undertaken on the works. It will run from 11th February until 7th June 2026.
Rediscovered Guido Reni Revealed Today
January 30 2026
Picture: C2RMF
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The aforementioned rediscovered and restored Guido Reni of Atalanta and Hippomenes will be unveiled to the public today at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Libourne. It seems that an official photograph of the painting after restoration is yet to emerge. More news as and when it arrives.
Dresden Rubens to be restored with TEFAF Fund
January 28 2026
Picture: Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Rubens' The Boar Hunt, located in the collection the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, has been announced as the recipient of this year's TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund (TMRF). The restored painting is expected to be unveiled at the forthcoming 2027 exhibition entitled Rubens in Dresden.
According to Artdaily.com's article linked above:
With TEFAF’s funding, the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister will restore The Boar Hunt (1616-18), a monumental painting by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). This work was most likely acquired directly from the artist in 1627 by George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, before becoming part of the imperial collection in Prague. In 1749, it entered the collection of Frederick Augustus IIof Saxony and has remained in Dresden ever since, surviving wartime displacement to the USSR in 1945, a decade in storage in Moscow, and eventual return to Dresden in the mid-1950s.
The Boar Hunt is obscured by a thick, darkened multi-layered varnish (likely 19th-century) that mutes Rubens’ original palette. Technical imaging has also confirmed the presence of an upper extension into which the original underdrawing does not continue, raising key questions about when the extension was made and by whom. Early evidence suggests the addition may have been made under Rubens’ direction, while ongoing research will explore possible contributions from artists in his circle, including Jan Wildens, Lucas van Uden, or Anthony van Dyck.
Quinten Massijs Joiners Guild Altarpiece Restored
January 15 2026
Picture: KMSKA
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Antwerp that the Joiners Guild Altarpiece by Quinten Massijs, owned by the The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), has been restored. The project, which lasted 4 years, has ended with the painting being redisplayed in the museum's galleries. More details as and when they are published online.
Conservation Internships in Cleveland
January 14 2026
Picture: Cleveland Museum of Art
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Cleveland Museum of Art are inviting applications for paid Internships in both the Conservation of Paintings and Picture Frames.
According to the job description for the Paintings role:
The conservation department of the Cleveland Museum of Art welcomes applications for a graduate third- or fourth-year internship in Paintings Conservation for the period September 2026-August 2027. The intern will join a collaborative and convivial team in caring for, studying, and treating paintings from the Museum’s encyclopedic and renowned collection. The CMA maintains a full schedule of loans, rotations, and exhibitions, with associated assessment, documentation and treatment needs. The conservation department is also committed to ongoing research and investigation of paintings in the collection.
Both positions are paid and applications must be in by 26th January and 6th February 2026 respectively. Please click on the links above for the full terms and conditions.
Good luck if you're applying!
Attributed to Rubens Head with Second Face
January 14 2026
Picture: artnet.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Artnet.com have published a story relating to a head study of an Old Man attributed to Rubens which is being unveiled at the BRAFA fair in Brussels by dealer Klaas Muller. Acquired at auction a few years ago for €100,000, the head study (which relates to a finished Rubens in the Prado and is often repeated by other hands) curiously features another face which was painted over during the process of its creation. Click on the link to read the full story.
Lorenzo di Bicci to be Conserved
January 14 2026
Picture: ansa.it
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Italy that the State Archives of Prato will be restoring their Lorenzo di Bicci of a Holy Bishop with Donors, which notably includes portraits of the merchant Francesco Datini and his wife Margherita. €20,000 has been raised for the project. Click on the link above to read more about the history of the artwork.
Louvre clean Titian's Entombment of Christ
January 12 2026
Video: Louvre via Facebook
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Louvre's recent campaigns of painting conservation are moving on apace. The video above provides some details of the recent conservation of Titian's The Entombment of Christ which was recently treated by C2RMF (Centre for Research and Restoration of Museums of France). Click here to see some photos of how the painting looked previously (scrolling backwards through the photos). It's a good job that the unsightly canvas extension on the upper margin is hidden by the frame!
