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Fernand Léger’s Painting “Le passage à niveau” to be Restored

Thierry Lagache — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:08:56 +0000

With the support of the BNP Paribas Switzerland Foundation, the Fondation Beyeler is restoring a key painting in the collection, “Le passage à niveau “by Fernand Léger (1912). The aim of the restoration project, in addition to scholarly research, is to stabilize the work’s complex and fragile substance.

“Le passage à niveau” in the Context of Art History

A small group of early landscapes, among them Le passage à niveau, already reflected Léger’s central standing in the context of his epoch. With the Impressionists he shared an interest in the natural world which was gradually witnessing the incursion of civilization and technology. Yet by this time he had already abandoned the harmonious visual language of Impressionism and destroyed his earliest works. He felt closer to the Futurists, who translated the pulsating rhythms of modern life into rapid, vital linear staccatos. Under the impression of Cézanne as well as Picasso’s and Braque’s Cubism he developed an abstract idiom that established his highly autonomous position in the context of the Parisian avant-garde and would blaze a trail for developments in modern art.

The state of Léger’s painting “Le passage à niveau” (1912) must be described as fragile, due to the pattern of deep cracks that have developed in the paint layer and the complexity of its substance. To prevent possible damage, the painting has never been lent out since the opening of the Fondation Beyeler in 1997. The restoration work will begin with a comprehensive inspection aimed at determining the principal measures to be taken to stabilize the image.

In the course of the project, the painting will be studied and documented under various lighting conditions in order to obtain further information that is in part invisible to the naked eye. These will include oblique lighting (to bring out the surface structure of canvas and paint layer), infrared (to reveal initial drawing or alterations in the composition), ultraviolet (to detect later restoration measures), and x-ray investigation (to reveal various paint layers). A microscopic inspection and evaluation of the state of preservation with the aid of digital mapping should likewise provide important information.

Following this basic investigation, a suitable restoration plan will be drawn up and restoration measures undertaken.

By revealing Léger’s painting technique, we hope to gain a better understanding of his creative process and determine ways to stabilize the work’s fragile state, in order to enable an appropriate and long-term presentation in the context of the collection.

Rediscovery of a Venetian masterpiece

Thierry Lagache — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:13:53 +0000

It took five months to restore Veronese’s masterpiece at the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, thanks to the support of the BNP Paribas Foundation, Switzerland.

The “Entombment of Christ”, hung above a door, used to grace the great drawing room in the Louis XIV’s apartments at Versailles. This work by Paolo Caliari (1528-1588), known as Veronese, was probably painted in Venice in about 1575 and depicts the body of Christ being placed in the tomb with a delicately sketched landscape in the background. After being sent to Paris in 1802, the picture was passed to the city of Geneva in 1805. It was exhibited first at the City Hall before being transferred to the Museée Rath as soon as it opened in 1826.

The picture, whose poor condition was causing concern, needed restoration work which was undertaken this year with the support of the BNP Paribas Foundation, Switzerland.
The work was included in a much broader study of the collections of Italian paintings at the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in collaboration with Professors Mauro Natale and Frédéric Elsig of the University of Geneva.
The “Entombment of Christ” needed five months of restoration work and has been on public display since the end of September.
The results of the research will be announced on 25th November during a study day dedicated to this masterpiece. As well as a scrupulous analysis of the painting itself, the study day will also offer an opportunity to discover the rich and varied range of crafts and skills involved in caring for the collections.

Preserve and promote cultural heritage

Thierry Lagache — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:23:39 +0000

The BNP Paribas Foundation has been a trailblazer in actions to promote awareness of and preserve the heritage of museums. For 25 years it has been a loyal and widely recognized patron of museums, regularly funding restoration of works. The Foundation also supports the publication of museum catalogues to heighten awareness of the wealth of museum collections. These programs, which have also been de have expanded outside France to aid museums in other countries as well.

This component of BNP Paribas Corporate Philanthropy continues to grow with international initiatives, including direct partnerships between BNP Paribas and leading museums and the publication of works on the rich historical heritage of certain countries.

Restoration of a Qing Dynasty Mirror Case in Taiwan

Joyce Leung — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:36:13 +0000

To mark its 30th anniversary in Taiwan, BNP Paribas and its Foundation have partnered with the National Palace Museum in Taiwan to restore a Qing Dynasty Mirror Case.

Designed in the form of an album approximately 5 centimetres thick, this mirror case from the Qing Dynasty (18th century) was acquired by The National Palace Museum Taiwan last year.

It features the painted image of a bronze mirror, which has been shown to be similar in size, shape, texture and rust corrosion of another bronze mirror within the museum’s collection.

Clear written record of its name, dimensions, decorations, inscription and stamp can be found on the mirror case. In comparing the message and the related historical information, experts proved that this mirror case is in fact the container of the bronze mirror in the museum’s collection! The mirror currently the only existing flower-shaped mirror from the Tang Dynasty.

These two items had been separated before the case’s relocation to Taiwan. The National Palace Museum already has in its possession the packaging and accessories for the case, including the wooden lid and brocade cover.

The mirror case, bronze mirror and other accessories are meant to be one artifact according to its original design; and they denote an inseparable historical importance. It is stamped with Qing Dynasty Emperor’s seal, which clearly shows that it was a beloved collector’s item of the Emperor, and is representative of his taste.

It is estimated that the restoration will take around 9 to 12 months to complete…we’ll keep you updated on its progress!

Restoring the sculptures of Aristide Maillol

Thierry Lagache — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:57:19 +0000

The Kunsthaus Zürich is currently undergoing a restoration project for seven of the Aristide Maillol sculptures in its collection.

From April to November, six of the French sculptor’s bronze sculptures and a clay statuette will be fully restored and prepared for a new presentation.

Aristide Maillol (1861-1944) was, along with Auguste Rodin, the most important bronze sculptor at the turn of the 19th century. The collection that appears in the Kunsthaus Zürich represents nearly all the phases of his life’s work, largely devoted to capturing a precise female image. Rounded forms, compact surfaces, and classic poses characterize his figures.

Two of the Kunsthaus sculptures stand out from the rest: the somewhat eccentric “Monument à Cézanne”, which joined the collection as a donation from Werner and Nelly Bär, and the life-size “Venus with Necklace”, which Maillol created between 1918 and 1929 and which is one of his most known works. The upright female figure, which embodies at once voluptuousness and grace, represents Maillol at the peak of his career.

The precious bronze sculpture, which was acquired directly from the artist in 1931, is a rare example of the artist’s works during that period. It has been exhibited outdoors for many years and its surface has been strongly affected by the elements. The sculpture will undergo thorough cleaning and restoration processes, just as did Rodin’s “Gate to Hell” a few years ago. After elaborate and careful surface touching up, the magnificent Venus will fit nicely amongst the Maillol and Rodin bronzes and will be exhibited for the first time in decades within the exemplary Kunsthaus collection.

The five other works have also suffered from exposure to dust, dirt and other deterioration over time, and they too need care. The continued support of the BNP Paribas Foundation Switzerland has already made it possible for the public to rediscover the sculptures of Rodin at the Kunsthaus, and will soon allow for the entire sculpture collection to be admired in its entirety in the near future.

You can follow the restoration process on the Kunsthaus’ site, www.kunsthaus.ch.

Thumbnail photo (home): Aristide Maillol – Monument to Cézanne, circa 1907-1925
Bronze, 135 x 227 x 74 cm – Kunsthaus Zürich © 2011 ProLitteris, Zurich

The original colours of the Jan van Scorel polyptych restored

Sophie Bonnaud-Le Roux — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:36:15 +0000

As a dedicated patron of the arts and well-known museum sponsor, the BNP Paribas Foundation has sponsored the restoration of a 16^th century polyptych painted by the Dutch artist Jan van Scorel.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see it at the Fondation Custodia/Institut Néerlandais, where it will be on display until 22 May 2011. A unique opportunity to admire this masterpiece before it is returned to the Musée de la Chartreuse in Douai!

Originally created for the abbey in the French commune of Marchiennes, the polyptych – a painting that is divided into multiple sections, or panels – traces the life and martyrdom of St. Jacques le Majeur and St. Etienne. Bursting with colour and detail, it is emblematic of Italian Renaissance art in the Netherlands.

The restoration campaign lasted more than four years, uniting restorers, curators, art historians and scientists around the nine compositions out of the original ten that have survived, despite the polyptych’s turbulent history, until the present day. This impressive collection has finally regained its full lustre.

Tracking the restoration of a painting, in celebration of 130 years in Australia

Sarah Claughton — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:17:49 +0000

Have you ever been curious about how the restoration of a painting actually happens? The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the oldest public art gallery in Australia, has created an online diary to track the conservation treatment of Crossing of the Red Sea, a prized painting by Nicolas Poussin. The diary began in January 2011 and guides its readers step by step through the restoration process.

Crossing of the Red Sea was acquired by the gallery in 1948, and remains one of the most highly regarded works in the NGV collection. It is also considered to be one of the masterpieces of this influential 17th century painter, whose works feature clarity, logic and order.

The restoration is being sponsored by BNP Paribas and its Foundation, in celebration of the bank’s 130th year in Australia.

About the painting:
Nicolas POUSSIN
French 1594–1665, worked in Italy
The Crossing of the Red Sea c.1634
oil on canvas
155.6 x 215.3 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1948
Photo: National Gallery of Victoria

Paving the Roadways with Green

Scott Gerace — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:50:56 +0000

What’s the first thing you see when driving to Manhattan from the airport, or into the city from New Jersey or Connecticut to see a Broadway show? Even before the skyline, there are the roadways.

With support from BNP Paribas, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is helping to line these major roadways with thousands of trees. The bank is not only helping to plant new trees, but also putting fallen trees to good use, following a string of treacherous storms that wreaked havoc in September 2010. Fallen trees generated thousands of cubic yards of wood chips. Soon an idea began to grow—tree-planting projects on highways require mulch, and lots of it! Partnering with the NYC Parks Department, NYRP was able to make mulch from fallen trees to cover 81 acres.

The New York Restoration Project was founded by Bette Midler in 1995. It began as the actress’ own desire to clean up the streets of New York…and quickly evolved into a large-scale non-profit organization that makes both a visual difference and a social impact on the city.

BNP Paribas employees have been active in a number of tree-planting volunteer days with the NYRP, and most recently joined the organization’s staff in rebuilding raised planting beds for an East Harlem-based food bank.

Lorenzo Lotto’s body of works on display in Rome

Raffaella Violentano — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:36:16 +0000

From the 2nd of March until the 12th of June 2011, works of the Venetian artist Lorenzo Lotto will be on display at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome. This exhibition will bring together most of the masterpieces of this Italian legend—with only the exception of the paintings that are too risky to transport.

The shows entirely dedicated to Lotto were held in 1963 in Venice, and over three decades in Bergamo (Italy), Paris and Washington. BNL, a bank in-tune with the world of arts and culture, wanted to support this unique event as main sponsor.

The sponsorship of the exhibition is particularly significant for the bank, who is lending Lotto’s painting, Guiditta con la testa di Oloferne, from its own private collection.

The show at the Scuderie del Quirinale is not only an exhibition open to the public; it also has provided an opportunity to review the state of the works and to see which ones need restoration work. BNL has committed to helping restore 13 of Lotto’s works, including Trasfigurazione di Cristo, Cristo deposto nel sepolcro and the Presenatzione di Cristo al tempio.