“William William’s portrait of Deborah Hall is a constant presence in the Conservation Lab whi
“William William’s portrait of Deborah Hall is a constant presence in the Conservation Lab while she is undergoing conservation treatment. This painting was purchased at auction by the Brooklyn Museum in the 1940s, and at that time, it was in dire condition. Upon its arrival at the Museum, our Lab’s founding conservator, Sheldon Keck, stabilized the flaking paint and carefully reintegrated the many losses, ensuring Deborah’s portrait would last into the future. Although we cannot continue the current treatment of this painting while we are working from home, I appreciate the time I have to reflect on how precious this artwork is, and how fortunate we are that it has lasted for over 250 years. It reminds me that paintings can be like humans—they are not only delicate and sensitive to their environments, but also surprisingly resilient in difficult times. The treatment and research of this painting is an energizing group effort. One of the best aspects is collaborating with the other paintings conservators at the Museum, and our Assistant American Art Curator, Margarita Karasoulas, as well as our incredible colleagues from Winterthur Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, and Eskenazi Museum of Art at IU. This is all made possible by a Conserving Canvas grant through the Getty Foundation. The conservation and research of this precious painting is a daily joy, and I can’t wait to get back to it!" Posted by Ellen Nigro, Mellon Fellow, Paintings ConservationWilliam Williams (American, 1727-1791, active in America 1746-1776). Deborah Hall, 1766. Oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 42.45 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum) -- source link
#artforthesociallydistanced#brooklyn museum#museums#coronavirus#social distancing#conservingcanvas#bkmconservation#art conservation#portraiture