Restoring an 'undisplayable' painting | Behind the scenes in Conservation | 2/2 | National Gallery

[@peckinpahlady]

Expertly presented. Nice to see a relatively younger person executing this mammoth task with such skill and confidence.

[@e.s.r5809]

I love that Kendall explains her process with such joy and confidence. It's wonderful to watch a professional at work, and taking so much passion in what they do.

[@SomethingDangerous1]

Question for u.. when fixing a painting like this do the new artists not want to add any of their own colors or decisions to the retouching of it ? It seems as after shes done filling in the blemishes with the golden color shes not going to use any coloring to complete the painting?

[@mxrkxo]

the nerves needed for this job is beyond me, it really needed someone that calm...

[@GeriBee]

Thank you Kendall, you explained that beautifully. Please let us see the final varnish application! 🙏🏻

[@fredericolourenco1972]

I love this series on restoration and conservation! Well done Larry Keith and Kendall Francis! And please let's have lots more videos from both!

[@emitch9213]

I have always been very impressed by restoration artists, who express their high awareness and conscious respect to the given artist's damaged works. Their bold approach to any work expresses a sincere humility unto themselves with the given artist's work. Thank you.

[@ruadhscottygirl2480]

Stunning! Very, very informative woman with clear explanation. Such an asset to the museum.

[@whtrabbit3852]

Great explanation of oil colors. Your passion to restore an old painting is truly a joy for art appreciation.

[@a-complished4406]

She makes this daunting project seem so effortless. Great job explaining the process, I now understand how the conservator has to approach each work with such care.

[@groumeliotis1]

It's mind boggling that all those white patches must be filled and blended perfectly with their surroundings, and everything must come together as a coherent whole. My attempt would look like a calico cat :) Thank you, Kendall, for sharing your craft, artistic sensibility, and passion.

[@SomeInterestingName]

What a wonderful video to be randomly recommended!

[@joanholland3438]

Quite a task! Your doing a remarkable restoration 🍀 Thank you!

[@richardasplen9605]

Kendall Francis: An illuminating and insightful professional at work.

[@edrandomed]

I will show this to others and use this as an example of taking your time, being a good worker, and changing the present state of something to become better, like ourselves ultimately.

[@kevinchan9936]

Kendall you have such steady hand and what incredible patience you have. Would love to see her do a video on the final result!

[@marionphillips5979]

Love seeing these beautiful paintings cared for so lovingly. Love watching Baumgartner Restoration,

[@adambachert4300]

Artists of all generations thank you. Please continue to preserve our cultural history

[@moonglow630]

This is just absolutely fascinating. Just love watching these type of things. Keep up the hard work!! My first visit to The National Gallery was a seminal experience in my life. I was actually moved to tears by the beauty of a Monet painting.

[@lorettabertoli3736]

Thank you from Italy Kendall!! Beautiful video!

[@calanm7880]

I hope in next century ppl will continue to love this painting, and Kendall’s artistry will be an integral part of this work and be acknowledged for years to come! Brilliant knowledge and skill

[@pcbif]

Thanks, really interesting. I can't wait to see the final result!

[@jamesrobiscoe1174]

Kendall, you are an art angel.

[@tubularap]

Beautiful. Good presentation. The sketch overlay, with the now disappeared man, shows the remarkable changes this painting had during its intriguing creative history. Looking forward to the further restoration.

[@CherylGormanAuthor]

Kendall, you are a rock star!!

[@Audion]

Excellent presentation, thank you. 🎨🖌️

[@theblankpanther]

Incredible, and I’m sure quite painstaking, work bringing this painting back to life!

[@aerochicc]

It takes a patient soul to do this kind of work! Mad props!!!

[@rod6163]

She LOVES what she does,,, beautiful job!

[@dcaudinmj1321]

I read the old book and that painting was 1730's I love that story behind that❤ the realgal is formerly used as a pigment and in fireworks☺🤗

[@rembvanrijn]

Fascinating! The more we see of Piazzetta the better, I think-a wonderful artist. Not so sure about the ‘get up and go’ music-as if we’re racing to catch a train!

[@sodapopbrosky]

Did you want a dirge played during the video?

[@beth7467]

@@sodapopbrosky well, no music would be okay by me. :)

[@toddaulner5393]

Super proud of you!

[@missgunst4152]

Lovely how she explains everything

[@ptrck99]

Kendall looks like the type of person who would be a great teacher, she has the patience and the know-how.

[@DV-dt9sq]

So beautiful!! ♥️♥️♥️

[@xraychey]

I love this. I would love to see more restorations. I used to work at the Dali Museum. Huge respect for the knowledge and research. Thank you.

[@Figueiredoartconservation]

amazing restoration work

[@randolphfriend8260]

Lovely! I've been wondering what has been going on with the work. Thank you for the update. ❤

[@harperwelch5147]

I've tried touching up old murals, nothing terribly valuable, but it's WORK! Not easy at all to match all those colors.

[@maudemax8981]

Thank you for this video :) I love how specific she gets with her process.

[@judibrake6508]

I can’t wait to see this restored!

[@veramae4098]

Please link the other videos in this series, this painting. Thank you.

[@lissiegarces8040]

Huge and delicate work. Thanks

[@barbleigh5571]

Quite impressive and very interesting detail in explaining the process. Thank you ❤️

[@jcortese3300]

This is amazing -- this is going to be years of her life invested in this one painting. I wonder how many they restore at a time, how many paintings she is working on at once?

[@jon780249]

Brilliant.thank you for this fascinating and insightful commentary.

[@julierogers1155]

Amazing restoration work.

[@Emmyradrad]

So interesting for a painter such as myself!

[@LauraTeAhoWhite]

Piazzetta would be proud of you guys

[@Ebb5845]

You are so talented!

[@CK_Loves_Tea]

What’s the general kind of timeline on restorations of this scale? It’s pretty clear that there are some distinct phases the piece has to go through; what kind of timeframe could one expect those phases to take? It would be lovely to have that extra context ☺️ y’all are doing such a fantastic job!

[@nationalgallery]

Hi Caspian! The general timeline of treatments on this scale can vary due to several reasons such as condition and the level of damage, extent of previous restorations, and the level of cleaning difficulty. The timescales can also increase due to the need for scientific analysis, collaboration with curators, and other gallery commitments. As this painting had quite extensive areas of previous restoration due to the amount of damage, to reach the “After Cleaning” stage took collectively around 7 months and the retouching will take around 8-10 months. It's also important to note that Conservators in museums are multitasking several treatments and other kinds of work during the course of any given treatment. Thank you for your question! - Kendall and Larry

[@CK_Loves_Tea]

@@nationalgallery thanks so much!

[@susanjane4784]

I'm very interested in the varnish as well.

[@norman3050]

hi Kendall i have been following your career for a while and it is amazing, i thought that i would contact you and tell you how proud i am of your progression

[@032319581]

Talented people are conservators. I loved watching Bumgartner

[@mozdickson]

With all the turmoil and rancour of this world, I find it truly gratifying that people and resources are dedicated to 'salvaging' beauty, for posterity. Abraham was a man of faith, father of a nation. This restoration work is perfectly in keeping with that. Work on in faith madam. By faith I believe I will one day gaze on this painting at The National Gallery, and will give thanks.

[@RocLobo358]

I couldn't find any video on the context of why this painting has so many losses. Also Kendall says the palette is very venetian. It might be great if you could include additional information in the description so I could read more

[@geoffreykeane4072]

How many hours work is the retouching?

[@Vincent-Vega24]

Do you clean the painting before you start applying paint??

[@dalriadaskillen]

Is there a Corpus restaurationum yet?

[@YYRRable]

what kind of glasses she wear? tks

[@MrQuickLine]

I've watched 5 or 6 Julian Baumgartner videos so I feel confident I could have pulled this off myself.

[@ianmoseley9910]

Even if I had the skill, I would never have the patience!

[@LaHermitess]

Congrats on some wonderful, valuable, and what must be very rewarding work, well done. I wonder however, what exactly makes a piece the 'work' of a particular artist. I know much of the greatest artists of all time received a lot of help in creating pieces from the students of their studios, but when (of does) modern retouching, and or restoration make it other than the work of the original artist (or his school). If in total a large percentage of a canvas for example is retouched, is the work still a 'fill in artist's name' painting, or does the act of replacing damaged areas even with authentic paints and meticulous accuracy, begin to make it a joint venture of the original artist and the conservator? I guess my question is whether the original idea and drawing (cartoon????) is the predominant definition of a work by an artist, or if the application of the paint to bring that sketch to fruition as a painting, is necessary to become defined as that artist's piece. Is there a short answer for dummies to that question (if I have even made my query clear)?

[@Offender666]

Where's the 1st video?

[@nationalgallery]

Hi, it's here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGaUm3mBlNN3hbc

[@calibanxpable]

"Nature is not human hearted." - Lao Tzu

[@Divertedflight]

The restoration paint is bound in varnish so that it can be more easily removed many years from now. Over several decades the paint can change in tone and colour, usually getting darker, but fading is also possible. Often no longer matching the original paint. It then has to be done all over again.

[@Mayakran]

Aren’t modern restoration varnish and paints stable, though? No UV sensitivities, etc.

[@cmarano]

@@Mayakran All work done by restorers is reversible so that should a problem arise in the future the material can be removed. Oh, and yes, the colors used and the medium that carries them are less sensitive to UV.

[@Ecfotografy]

This would be fun to restore using photoshop Wish I could get my hands on a high resolution photo of it cleaned up

[@erwinwoodedge4885]

Nothing lasts forever - paintings included.

[@seandelarosa1107]

Amazing patience - I definitley don't have that skill! 😂

[@garywilloughby6893]

I wish i had the talent of Kendall.

[@sofhispalis]

Julian’s follower and fan here 👍🏻

[@geneklee7608]

Is that a fluorescent light she is working under?

[@Beruthiel45]

Daylight tubes, if so. They actually do a good job of replicating natural light and are perfectly okay to paint under. Warm and cool tubes normally used in offices however... I was taught this by my art profs at university after painting in my basement, and changing to daylight tubes saved the day. We have daylight led bulbs all over the house now. Gone are the days when you could only work in a North facing attic in daylight hours. 🙃

[@darransykes5703]

What would happen if you restore a classic painting too often. At what point would the painting cease to be an original and become a copy of its original self? I was just curious....

[@noeraldinkabam]

Baumgartner tought us everything!

[@scuffygameplay]

Yes! I was wondering if there would be anyone coming from his channel.

[@micah06v8]

I would just like to say how much I admire people who have the talent, and the courage to undertake these monumental tasks. I would be absolutely terrified that I would ruin a priceless work of art. Not to mention the fact that I do not have an artistic bone in my body! Bravo and well done!

[@raycarter4030]

If you don't find this fascinating well, ...

[@AvalonDreamz]

Ooff, Kendall threw that shade out there and the name of the previous "conservator"! But he totally deserves it for painting over paint that was there. Big no no. I really wish we got to see more of her actually working on the painting rather than all the "conservators" just talking by the painting with occasional shots of them working as in other videos. They can totally talk while they work, or just work.

[@navajoauckland6003]

I wouldn't even attempt any of Dr Zeus illustrations

[@ankiking]

Great presentation, but the violins get a bit annoying. I am voting for less music in general. It tends to be distracting. Don’t be afraid of quiet.

[@ScooterSkillsYolo]

Conversation fellow lolss

[@claudiiaamejia2064]

They should dip all expensive painting in resin so they stay the smae

[@AndyCutright]

That's unlikely to protect the paint itself from degradation don't you think?

[@gowdsake7103]

I would say why bother its not exactly inspiring