Cummer Museum completes restoration of Peter Paul Rubens artwork

Cummer Museum completes restoration of Peter Paul Rubens artwork
The Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens has completed its restoration of The Lamentation of Christ by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).

The Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens has completed its restoration of The Lamentation of Christ by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). The entire restoration process was documented and photographed for educational purposes, including sharing restoration techniques and the importance of the art restoration process.

The artwork is the centerpiece of the Museum’s Baroque collection and the only painting by Rubens on display. The Lamentation of Christ is believed to have been painted during Rubens’ first trip to Italy and is an original work of art on copper. Radiographs and infra-red technology were used to reveal Rubens’ original intent for the painting and restorers went millimeter by millimeter to ensure no part of the original painting was damaged. The extra paint and varnish from past restoration attempts were removed and retouched, and the frame underwent restoration to repair the gold leaf and wooden structure.

The museum received a Bank of America Art Conservation Project grant in 2019 to fund the cost of restoring the artwork, which began in January 2020 and was led by ArtCare Conservation in Miami, began in January 2020.

“Support from Bank of America was vital for the completion of this project. Its generosity and commitment to conserving important works of art such as this one will ensure their survival for generations to come,” said Holly Keris, the Museum’s J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Chief Curator. “Restoration of this 400-year-old painting was extensive as there were structural problems with the frame as well as aesthetic problems from previous restoration attempts that led to surface discoloration. As this painting was part of the original bequest from Mrs. Cummer that created the Cummer Museum 60 years ago, its restoration in preparation for this important anniversary is all the more timely.”

The artwork has been returned to the museum, and the restoration video is a main feature in Art Connections, the Museum’s education center.

By Karen Rieley
Resident Community News

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