Cleaning Rubens's 'Het Steen' | National Gallery

Find out what Larry Keith discovered when he removed 75 years’ worth of discoloured varnish from Rubens’s 'Het Steen': www.nationalgallery.org.uk/be...
Painting mentioned:
🎨 Peter Paul Rubens, 'An Autumn Landscape with a View of Het Steen in the Early Morning'
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[@rupertmiller9690]

"Exuberant impasto" is a lovely combination of words.

[@koshersalaami]

Many years ago I was lucky enough to see the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the process of having centuries of smoke deposits removed. The painting went from somber to vivid, an almost comic-book like vibrancy to the colors. It led to a completely different feeling of the work.

[@ValkiriStudio]

Love the videos with Larry Keith, he has such a calming voice and is so knowledgeable!

[@user-jz2to3rv2f]

"Behind the scenes" - is a great idea to familiarize ordinary viewers with the secrets of conservation of masterpieces. Congratulations! You are awesome!

[@gordonlevittsmith]

"ordinary viewers"

[@lillalillalillalilla]

I love how passionately he speaks!

[@veyaai]

If you like Rubens, I suggest you look at Rembrant as well.

[@isatthere]

Fascinating. What a privilege to work on these works. Must be one of the most valuable occupations in the world.

[@cmgblkpt]

What a wonderful look behind the scenes into conservation and how cleaning a painting can truly alter the color relationships and how we, the viewer, read the painting. Mr. Keith does an outstanding job of explaining what he's doing and also gives us a nice art history lesson as well about Flemish painting and Rubens. I enjoyed hearing his observations about the work. Well done.

[@rembvanrijn]

Fabulous to see this wonderful painting emerge into the daylight. We can see Rubens’s genius even more clearly. The world owes you a great debt for this hugely valuable work!

[@letmetellyousomething123]

Fantastic explanation of this amazing painting.

[@toodle171]

I have done crime scene photography for the last sixteen years and find this to be such a total visual experience to make my spirit soar. So grateful for the talent and dedication. Will think of it often.

[@jeannek.srensen856]

A stark contrast to what you see in your job...I think I can see why this video appeals to yoy. Enjoy 😊

[@APFC95]

these videos are so satisfying to watch, would love to see the rest of the process of restoring the painting

[@christianjohansson9309]

Can always check out Baumgartner Restoration if you haven't already, kzbin.info/door/vZe6ZCbF9xgbbbdkiodPKQ

[@screetchycello]

Try Julian Baumgartner’s channel! He’s an art conservationist in Chicago. kzbin.info

[@mikem668]

Can you please show us the panel in the same lighting as you did when you hadn't finished the right side? Because of Covid-19, I had cataract surgery in only one eye. Depending on which eye I use, I'm seeing a varnished world or a blue world. When I studied art history, I had no idea my eyes could literally show my brain two different versions of any painting. Great video. Thank you.

[@jacekolender1139]

@@screetchycello Baumgartner is not a conservator. His work usually goes against professional technical and ethical standards.

[@kilianortmann9979]

@@jacekolender1139 I'd say he is working under a different set of requirements. The pieces conserved in the National Gallery and other museums are, in the very sense of the word, priceless. Time is not a constraint and money less so, if the time and money for a perfect restoration is not available, they simply won't go on display. Most of Mr. Baumgartners customers seem to be private collectors or auction houses, where money, and especially time are real constraints. Some of the paintings will go back to a less than ideal environment and some have to justify the cost of the restoration at an auction. I doubt anyone would call him to conserve the Mona Lisa, but he is working on behalf of his clients and within the restraints set by them, and they seem to be very happy with the results.

[@joepalooka2145]

The difference between the varnished and unvarnished is amazing. This is one of my ultimate favourite Rubens paintings. His landscapes are without doubt among the greatest ever painted. I have never seen "Het Steen" in real life and I hope someday soon to visit the National Gallery and see it up close.

[@PatrikDhaeseleer]

Wonderful painting. I actually grew up just a few miles North of the Rubens castle. The bird's eye view of the landscape in the painting is definitely some artistic license - there really isn't a hill around there where you might get a view like that. But I wouldn't be surprised if he actually used the view from the top of his tower to get that grand landscape background.

[@2gooddrifters]

I love seeing restorations. Pure magic.

[@jhb1493]

This is really wonderful. The inheritance of Art and other works coming down to us from past generations is the great treasure of Humanity. I am so glad we live in a time when works of art like this can be so carefully restored, even renewed. The difference of the "before" and "after" gives an immediacy to the art that shows the true vision and work of the artist, unclouded by the soil of time. National Gallery, please thank Mr. Keith and his fellow conservators and restorers for their amazing work, and their invaluable contribution to our shared inheritance.

[@Bani172]

Amazing work you’re doing, must take a long time. I live 1 mile from that castle, much is changed since then :)

[@stocktonnash]

Recommended. Clearly the algorithm knows I ❤️ Julian Baumgartner

[@nashvillain171]

He's insufferable.

[@transvestosaurus878]

The impasto on that sunny tree makes me feel like I'm on holiday somewhere warm

[@gerryholden]

Thank you so much for an interesting, informative and well presented video. Please let us see the rest of the restoration.

[@IamMinnie90]

Parry’s voice is so relaxing and when he was removing the varnish I got ASMR So happy to be subscribed ☺️

[@HeyyyitsBell]

What a fascinating and important line of work. Preservers of culture.

[@msaditu]

Please show more of the restoration process.

[@rachell4417]

Fascinating. What a great job

[@cherylannebarillartist7453]

Thank you for sharing your delicious understandings of the artist and his painting! The additional mention of stylistic differences of the times too!

[@andrewfrost8866]

Absolutely fascinating, thank you so much for sharing.

[@squarz]

Thanks for your work. It's always strange see how we are used to see old paintings warmer because of old varnish and we see as "fake" the real colors once cleaned. I also noticed that there is a strange fact that most contemporary "classical-realist" painters that put a lot of yellow and warm colors in their palette more than necessary to get the "classical look"

[@peteannells4218]

This is true but remember that the bright colours we have now were not available to the earlier painters.

[@alimanski7941]

This is reminiscent of lack of colour in neoclassical sculptures - due to Roman and Greek marble sculptures losing their colours over the centuries.

[@kdiggs5487]

Wonderful video, thank you for uploading quality content.

[@Andrew-Andre]

Thank you Mr. Keith! Very well presented. It is so nice to see this masterpiece with even more clarity. Very much looking forward to viewing the final results!

[@Figueiredoartconservation]

Such an inspiring video

[@maurizio7209]

So intersting to see the different steps of a restauration of this painting... thank you for sharing ... i would love to see the following steps ... well explained grazie

[@yvonnewinters9699]

You might like Baumgartner Restaurations, he restores (old) paintings and explains why and shows (nearly) everything.

[@gup8175]

Thank you, wonderful work.

[@lindas.martin2806]

Excellent conversation, and I am enjoying your knowledge and enthusiasm, thank you.

[@simonmorse1785]

I love to see conservation work. You get to see the painting close up, as the artist would have seen it. Great painting, by the way.

[@peterlucevan314]

That was really interesting. Thanks

[@stevenfromer3816]

Fantastic

[@rosebud3595]

So glad that the National Gallery hires professionals qualified to do this work, handling centuries old masterpieces. As we've all recently been seeing certain Catholic religious works destroyed by people who were hired to restore art works. In those cases, it is nearly unbelievable - especially in viewing the outcomes.. so bad they are humorous. I have a hard time believing the public isn't being trolled by vandalism in those cases, actually. In any case, it is nice to see these treasures respected and cared for - for future audiences.

[@veronicawhite398]

That was very informative to a newbie to painting. Thankyou very much.

[@casteretpollux]

Gorgeous painting: love Rubens.

[@nelsonx5326]

The old masters were incredible.

[@margacolor]

amazing Job.

[@tonib5952]

This is wonderful! Thanks for the excellent discussion.

[@susanhepburn6040]

Wonderful work! That must be so satisfying! Thank you very much.

[@txspacemom765]

I would like to learn more about Larry Keith's background..education, jobs, experience. I would love to do this! Thank you.

[@LouisHansell]

Interesting to think that the recession might have had to do with where the painting was hung in the Het Steen. Thanks so much for an informative video.

[@465maltbie]

With the city so close to it today it is hard to think it might have looked like that. Or perhaps that is just a painting of what he wanted the landscape to look like? Thanks for sharing your work. Charles

[@elchanchito1262]

Very interesting video! And the quality of the video editing is superb as well :)

[@henrycastle1]

❤️ This is great Thank you

[@chriswoods2647]

Thank you for these wonderful presentaions. When restoring, how can you tell what the oringinal colors were? For example, where do you know the clouds should be white (but whose varnish has yellowed over time) and which should be yellow-tinted clouds as original? Is it just given that the paint hasn't changed and removing the varnish will restore the original color? I am fascinated by restoration and paint technology. It astounds me how stable paints seem to be over centuries. Are there any presentations on the subject of paint types, their longevity, and different restoration "detective work" that you do to identify colors?

[@henrycastle1]

❤️ Again six months later

[@CypherSpectre]

He reads paintings the way sommeliers taste wine.

[@wodan74]

It's also nice to hear him pronounce the name of the painting right.

[@cbarnett1814]

“…it has been thrilling really…” 🙂

[@paddyskate]

What a smooth talker

[@suecox2308]

How do you determine the age of the various restorations, paints and varnishes used in the past?

[@casteretpollux]

I would like to know if any of the original varnish survived and was analysed ?

[@mfs5493]

So what is the varnish solvent that you use?

[@RosesAndIvy]

Does anyone know what the lovely music is called in this video?

[@artabn]

“A Delightful Evening”, by Francis Wells.

[@JORIS1234HOTMAIL]

I live not for from his house *a museum now* here in Antwerp 🌞

[@PartlySunny74]

Wouldn’t it be interesting, if possible, to compare the cleaned painting with a photo from now of the same view at the same time of day. Hoping of course, it hasn’t become a paved over city/suburb/industrial zone.

[@PartlySunny74]

Thanks to google earth I see that the chateau is still in a country setting although with some changes and differing tree lines. It might not be possible to get the same vista or restore the real landscape. Ruben’s painting is gorgeous. Thank you!!!

[@2adamast]

Isn’t it a created landscape? What Rubens could have seen if he was on top of a tree and the whole landscape moved or lined up to his mind

[@slowerpicker]

“Various combinations of organic solvents...utterly conventional” is a bit coy. Would it have been wrong to be more specific? Otherwise, the presentation was excellent!

[@stinew358]

That must have been excessively satisfying. Like power washing but x 100

[@oOIYvYIOo]

Could anyone tell me what would be the best solvent to remove resin varnish from a tempera painting on a gesso board ?

[@ixlnxs]

Absolutely lovely but calling a Flemish castle a château is like calling craft beer a velouté.

[@ShweMyaukMyauk]

Ok karina....or Karen

[@neilwoolner1662]

how do not rub too hard and has someone ever done that?

[@wolfdogg9938]

Does it make me weird if this is my dream job? Removing varnish, removing sediment from dinosaur bones, I wish I could get a job like this. Unfortunately I don't know anything about restoration but I would clean painting everday for fun.

[@renzo6490]

The painting is being dis-covered.

[@firouz4296]

Manual photoshop is the oldest image manipulation!

[@Goon-124]

Suppressing Exuberant Juxtaposition.

[@regnbuetorsk]

Longer, please. 30 minutes minimum, and comparison before/after

[@Xander785]

You just HAD to include one of those naff zoom situations, didn't you? Just to keep hammering it into everybody's brain.

[@jcoolverine3483]

Everything that comes from the Renaissance Period is welcome and nice to watch, everything else (except surrealism ) I feel sorry to the next generations that they should see these ATROCITIES!

[@aryanskywalker]

rubens was not a renaissance painter..

[@masajubr]

The varnish removal controversy is still a point not understood by historians and the products that restorers use for removal can also be aggressive to the works and the health of those who handle them.

[@jourdainjardin846]

No they aren’t. They only use small diluted modern solvents. It doesn’t damage the painting. The painting is tested multiple times. Varnish removal is not controversial, only from uneducated people.

[@chrisb3275]

gosh, rubens is a terrible landscape painter.

[@jourdainjardin846]

🙄

[@incrediblystupid8483]

Rubens was not much of a landscape painter. Composition leaves a lot to be desired. IMHO

[@jourdainjardin846]

Still better than your “art”