Conservation: Flowers in a Glass Vase painting

Flowers in a Glass Vase is a beautiful still life painted by the Dutch artist Jacob van Walscapelle in 1667 - the earliest known signed work by this artist. We don't believe that the painting has been treated since it was bequeathed to the V&A in 1900. Over time, the oil paint has started to flake, and the natural varnish has become discoloured. The painting is now undergoing thorough conservation work, which includes carefully reattaching paint flakes, removing discoloured varnish, applying new varnish and retouching. Transformed, the painting will go on display in Room 81 of the V&A Paintings Galleries.
Find out more: www.vam.ac.uk/info/conservation

[@sarasolomon4812]

If you pause the video and jump between 0:23 and 3:03 you can get a clearer idea of the before and after. It's so much brighter and clearer after restoration!

[@seanyeo5514]

Sara Solomon thanks for that! Amazing way to see the huge contrast before and after, and almost surprising to see how many colours were obscured by the old varnish.

[@niharikamanjunath]

Thanks!

[@mmaks2434]

So cool! Thanks!

[@savindyajayasinghe7888]

Yyhhhhh! Thanks. It's very clear!

[@happynewfears1805]

Now the glass vase actually look like a glass vase and not a dirty mug 😂

[@prettynoose8497]

God bless people like her that care deeply about the historical importance of this art!

[@whoami8434]

A painting dedicated to a meditation on transience is being preserved with the utmost care...

[@LinkEX]

At first I thought I had another video running in the background, but it sounds like whoever made the background music incorporated a couple of Super Mario Land 2 and Super Mario World sound effects, haha.

[@Zinshin]

It's definitely the skidding sound, I know I heard it from somewhere!

[@__w__o__w__]

lol I just posted a comment remarking on this. Should've known somebody else from reddit would've also noticed.

[@almontepaolilli4909]

Amazing job restoring the painting. Loved the insects among the flowers.

[@cassieoz1702]

What a stunning picture

[@juliaconnell]

What a *gorgeous* piece of art - I understand the principle of conservatism is to ensure the original art is restored and that often there are no radical changes - but in a case such as this, where there is significant improvement it would be great to see a side by side comparison at the end. Ot would really enhance these videos. Please. Thank you

[@yoclark2723]

This is my favorite genre of paintings. So realistic.

[@CelticLegend87]

I love French accents. I could listen to her all day

[@januzi2]

In that case, monsieur, you should listen to her carefully, because she shall say this only once.

[@Ilustrado649]

This is so impressive. What a testament to the marriage of science and art. Thanks for doing the work, V&A, and for this channel too!

[@mindywoodworth18]

Beautiful

[@shadowfire04]

what incredible beauty and dedication

[@khankhan-ge6oi]

First salute those who invent this technology and young lady who convert this painting as original great job🌹🌴🌷🌺🌸🥀💐💮🌹🌷🌺🌸🥀💐💮🌹🌹🌹

[@OneKindWord]

What an awesome place to work!

[@ianpereira1096]

Such a beautiful painting

[@CanadianMang]

I'm envious of the lighting and ventilation setup.

[@longsilver2646]

just beautiful!

[@JakkieTea]

This painting is stunning 😍

[@thepuddleboy]

Amazing process!

[@restauradorclaudioleindeck9946]

I hope you continue publishing more vídeos !

[@restauradorclaudioleindeck9946]

AMAZING !!! Nice Work of Art ! Congrats

[@robot7759]

True beauty is forever.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Amazing...

[@maureencullen1008]

Fascinating.The painting is so stunning.It would have been lovely to see a before and after side by side for comparison

[@dickwwee9366]

Very well held up for its age

[@BecomingVegan]

It would be nice to see a side-by-side of the before and after.

[@tracywood4949]

It would be great to see a side by side comparison.

[@77777aol]

Formidable !

[@__w__o__w__]

Is the sound effect in the song at 0:29 the sound of mario skidding as he reverses direction whilst running?

[@pizzatron2010]

a couple seconds before that is the sound effect link's sword makes when his hearts are full.

[@caecilliidae]

its not mario i dont think, i believe thats a sonic sound effect

[@saksija1987]

I love her

[@philinfimate2191]

Magnifique

[@carlingnugent]

V&A doesn't produce restoration videos as good as Baumgartner

[@BoomerangVillage]

No one does.

[@emems6620]

Im so MAD I lost the chance to visit this museum because that day i was tired of walking...... im so mad

[@morgan7834]

I totally want to do this one day. How would you even begin to get the skills to restore paintings though?

[@maryandchild]

you go to grad school and you intern and apprentice, and you practice.

[@restauradorclaudioleindeck9946]

Fantastic ! Your work is wonderful! It's just lovely to watch your videos. The art of restoration and conservation is a unique and divine talent, and I expect to watch many of your videos. It's simply adorable! Congratulations ! It is very beautiful to know that the preservation of art remains everywhere in the world. Here in my country I also do this type of work, and my vídeos are also available at may Chanel. Thank you !

[@audreybarlow4660]

How does one become an art restorer? it sounds like a very interesting career I like the way it looks

[@candeladiaz3107]

A lot of art universities offer art restoring as a career, especially in cities where there is a lot of historical and art patrimony. I’m actually planning to study that career next year when I graduate from high school.

[@jessicamorales2555]

i would like to work there

[@applesnow6516]

I always wondered how they preserve paintings colors, since they fade, get dusty, dirty over time

[@BuzzZu]

I wish they did a side by side comparison of before and after

[@bomethia7412]

Buzz Zu Pause at 0:23 and pause at 3:03 and it shows a good comparison

[@husseinalahmad4456]

I have an oil painting on canvas by Jacob van Walscapelle and I do not know if it is original or sequel

[@Widdekuu91]

+Hussein Al Ahmad Go to a dealer and ask them :)

[@23daughters]

This amazingly lifelike painting was done in 1667 when there was no photography to go off of... the perfectly depicted insects had to be painted by memory. And people have the audacity to call Rothko an artist.

[@alejandrahernandez1133]

Angelica Pickles Thank you!

[@maryandchild]

Rothko is an amazing artist. He did something no one else did, and created amazing paintings. My guess is that you have never seen them in person. The only kind of art is not realist art, nor is it the most valuable type of art.

[@lrla8657]

Was that lint in the new varnish layer?

[@christinadelrio9011]

Wow ! Myself thinking look fix ? 😗😗

[@PokePersonPower]

What will happen to the painting if resin isn't reapplied?

[@LyssaGal]

Eventually the colors would fade if you don't put resin/a clear coat on it.

[@PokePersonPower]

would that be because of chemical reactions or physical contact?

[@kenedeighbara2188]

PokePersonPower yes, to the chemical reaction.

[@K3v114]

0:25 .................3:03 0:25 .................3:03 0:25 .................3:03

[@sabriele]

2:31 to 2:32 did they accidentally flip that segment lol

[@user-pi1yb9du4q]

1:20

[@fruitoson4227]

yeeessss accent

[@wanketta]

This BEGS a before and after comparison of images, otherwise, why bother?

[@janeday9148]

Why the awful music the restoration of this wonderful painting doesn't need it

[@IOxOI_art]

Do you speak francais? :)

[@CorporaMedicina]

she did not remove the surface grime...fail...lol

[@jeffmorse6727]

she very clearly did because the painting is noticeably brighter

[@milootje007]

I like how she uses bags of weed for weights xD

[@kev3d]

Removing bad varnish and cleaning are one thing, but adding new paint? I understand the purpose, but I'm not sure I agree on principle. That is to say, if the value of a painting is the rarity (in quantity) and uniqueness (in skill and beauty) of the artist's hand, then what does it say when portions of that work are restored by a new hand? Yes, it reverses some degradation, but at what cost? At what point does the piece no longer reflect the genuine work of the artist, but of the technicians that followed?

[@MrLBFriend]

Modern restorations are done in a way that is completely reversible. As you saw in the video, she only adds (reversable) paint after the new varnish is applied providing a layer between the art and the restration.. Technicians (should) also only apply a minimum amount of paint on the areas that need retouching, never covering areas where original paint remains. I agree that at some point this may not reflect the intention of the artist, especially when large areas of the work are damaged. But, I think most of the technitions understand this and carefully consider this before even considering a restoration.

[@DrWhom]

For small areas, interpolation is all but unambiguous and nothing is lost while the unity of the Gestalt of the work is restored. For larger areas, it becomes more difficult to recover the artist's original vision with any degree of certainty and in these cases the restorer chooses for _tratteggio_ a more schematic filling in that reduces the overall look of damage whilst respecting the original integrity of the work.

[@MissusO]

I believe the small touch ups are not only okay, but that they are vital in helping the general masses see and understand the original intentions of an artist. The artists long side gone obviously did not intend for degradation and decay to afflict their pieces; so, I don't think it's unethical to help them preserve their work and display it in its original glory.

[@anthenyainyaoebassanyenius6035]

I personally think if the original artist is alive ,for such still life compositions, they wouldn't mind restoring such small parts , they might actually encourage it.