Some 24 works by the Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens are set to undergo a radical restoration to revive their visual allure.
Conservationists at the Louvre Museum in Paris will undertake the ambitious project to bring back the vivid colours on the works which have dulled over the centuries due to oxidised varnishes.
Among the works set to restored is one of Rubens' greatest masterpieces, The Marie de Médicis Cycle which shows the life of the French queen, from her birth in Florence to her political life in France.
According to Sébastien Allard, director of the Paintings Department at the Louvre, the painting is currently in a problematic state of conservation for two reasons: "Firstly, the varnishes are extremely oxidised, so there is this sort of yellow layer that obscures the power of Rubens’ colour, which therefore needs to be reduced."
In addition to surface discoloration, some works are no longer fully adhering to their canvases, which is creating an enormous risk of flaking.
"There are also structural issues that were identified around ten years ago, namely that the paint layer on certain works is no longer adhering to its support and therefore risks flaking off. So it was absolutely essential for us to intervene," said Allard.
Visitors won't be allowed in the restoration area, but selected works will be displayed periodically to show progress and reveal Rubens’ original colour.
The project, starting this autumn, is expected to last four years.
