During the public treatment of Albert Bierstadt’s A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie,

During the public treatment of Albert Bierstadt’s A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie, one of the most popular conversation topics between visitors and conservators has been the painting’s frame, which is also being treated. The massive, 200 lbs. frame is constructed from wood and composition ornament, or “compo,” a 19th-century advancement in frame making that allowed intricate shapes to be molded rather than carved by hand. The frame came into the Brooklyn Museum collection with the painting, but records can’t confirm whether or not it was the original one picked out for A Storm in the Rocky Mountains. It was certainly made around the same time as the painting, though, for a ballpark age of 150 years.For having such a long history, the frame is in relatively good condition, needing only minor aesthetic attention. During this treatment, conservators have reconstructed small chip losses in the compo leaf decoration using a water-thinnable, white fill material. The fills were then carved down to the appropriate shape and toned with metallic pigments to match the original gold leaf surface. The treatment is minor, but working over such a large surface area is still a major undertaking that requires a lot of patience and a lot of hands to complete the task on time. BKM Conservation is lucky that two advanced pre-program interns, Aashna Kapoor (top GIF, on the right) and Colleen Watkins (picture above, in lower left), have been able to contribute many hours for this project. With their help, the frame will be ready to hold the painting again in just a few days!Stop by the 5th Floor Rotunda Gallery soon to see the ongoing work – the last day of the project is Sunday, July 16!Posted by Jessica Ford -- source link
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