This report details the conservation and restoration of the Royal Collection of Paintings at the Łazienki Królewskie Museum. It highlights spectacular findings from the treatment of 'The Poultry Market' and 'The Fish Market' by Jan Peeter Verdussen, revealing secrets beneath layers of varnish and repaints.
The Royal Łazienki Museum presents the remarkable results of its extensive conservation and restoration efforts on the Royal Collection of Paintings. This initiative, a significant undertaking in the museum's history, aimed to uncover the secrets held within King Stanisław August's collection.
The page focuses on the detailed work performed on two significant paintings by the 18th-century Flemish painter Jan Peeter Verdussen: 'The Poultry Market' and 'The Fish Market.' These works, traditionally displayed together, presented unique challenges during conservation. Through in-depth analysis, including X-rays and meticulous cleaning, conservators revealed surprising findings. Layers of yellowed varnish, repaints, and dirt were progressively removed, uncovering original details and the artist's superior technique. For 'The Poultry Market,' X-ray analysis suggested the presence of an entirely different composition beneath the current one, hinting at potential earlier interventions or a unique creative process. Similarly, 'The Fish Market' underwent extensive cleaning and restoration, revealing lost details of a seascape and harbor scene that had been obscured by extensive repaints. The report emphasizes the collaborative decision-making process involving conservators and museum personnel throughout these complex treatments, ultimately restoring the paintings' original sheen and artistic integrity.