Thanks to the collaboration between the Rijksmuseum and AkzoNobel, the painting undergoes the most ambitious and innovative restoration procedure in the history of world art.
In July last year, preparations began for the restoration of the painting "Night Watch" - with the largest research project in the history of the famous masterpiece by Remrandt. The work takes place in a glass pavilion designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Thus, the painting, which is the pearl of the museum collection and the landmark of the whole of Amsterdam, continues to delight visitors. The working group consists of Rijksmuseum researchers, restorers, curators and photographers, specialists from other museums and universities, as well as AkzoNobel, which acted as an expert in color solutions.
“We have embarked on the largest and most innovative restoration in the museum's 219 years of history,” commented Rijksmuseum CEO Taco Dibbits. - “The Rijksmuseum is constantly monitoring the state of the Night Watch, and we found some changes, for example, fading of colors on the figure of the dog in the lower right corner of the picture. In order to better assess the general condition of the painting, it was decided to study it carefully. Therefore, we are very grateful to AkzoNobel, as the work they support is urgently needed."
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zooming AkzoNobel CEO Thierry Vanlanker and Rijksmuseum Director Taco Dibbits symbolically sign a partnership agreement. © Photo Rijksmuseum
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zooming Director of the Rijksmuseum Taco Dibbits © Photo Rijksmuseum
During the research, the painting was removed from the frame and placed on a specially designed easel. Two lifting platforms allow you to study the entire canvas, the dimensions of which are impressive: height 3.7 m, width 4.5 m. Lamps, cameras and scanners are attached to a special dynamic frame, with the help of which every millimeter of the canvas is examined at a microscopic level.
Fragments of the painting are photographed at a very high resolution - this allows you to see the particles of the pigment and thus explore the paint at the nanoscale. In total, about 12,500 images need to be taken.
To detect cracks and fractures, scanners are used that work in different spectra and help to analyze the chemical elements in the paint: calcium, iron, potassium and cobalt. From the maps of the distribution of chemical elements, you can determine which pigments were used, and finally reveal the secret of the composition of Rembrandt paints. Also, the technology allows you to identify the main changes in the composition. To scan the entire surface of the Night Watch, 56 scans are required, each taking 24 hours.
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zooming 1/3 Detail of the painting "Night Watch", enlarged to 5340 dpi. © Photo Rijksmuseum
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zooming 2/3 Detail of the painting "Night Watch" © Photo Rijksmuseum
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zooming 3/3 Detail of the painting "Night Watch" © Photo Rijksmuseum
The study will help to better understand the state of the painting, as well as give an idea of the interventions in the paint layer that have occurred with the "Night Watch" over the past four centuries. Using the data obtained, specialists will make a prediction about aging and the rate of destruction of the picture, and then develop a "treatment plan".
Work on Night Watch is a continuation of a long-term collaboration between AkzoNobel and the Rijksmuseum, in which about 8,000 liters of paint were supplied during the renovation of the museum. This required the development of a special color palette (known as Sikkens RIJKS Colors) to match the colors originally used by architect Piero Kuipers
You can also watch the process online.
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zooming 1/4 Museum staff unfold a canvas with "Night Watch" in June 1945 © Photo Rijksmuseum
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zooming 2/4 The restorer removes the varnish in 1946-47 © Photo Rijksmuseum
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zooming 3/4 Restoration of the painting in 1975-76 © Photo Rijksmuseum
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zooming 4/4 Visitors watch the restoration of the Night Watch in 1975-76. © Photo Rijksmuseum
