NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Chrysler Museum of Art will restore a famous piece from its collection, impressionistic oil painting “Dancer with Bouquets” by Edgar Degas.
“We’re really excited because we’ve gotten a grant from Bank of America to research and conserve one of the real treasures of our collection,” said Mark Lewis, conservator at the Chrysler Museum of Art.
“Dancer with Bouquets” (1890-1895) depicts a prima ballerina taking a bow at the end of a performance. It’s a painting the artist did late in his life, and it has only had three known owners, according to the museum. The painting was a gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., to the museum in memory of his mother, Della Viola Forker Chrysler.
“It’s a painting that any museum in the world would love to have,” said Lewis.
The conservation work will be a step to preserve the art, and show the piece as Degas may have intended.
“It’s one of the guiding principles of conservation that we are trying to understand as best we can through research,” Lewis said. “What did the artist intend? How did they want this to be shown? How did they want it to look?”
The work is made possible through grant funding by Bank of America’s Art Conservation Project. The grant will allow the museum to conduct research to understand the work in order to restore this prominent and historically significant artwork.
It is one of only 24 works selected internationally.
“We’re competing against the Louvre, and the National Gallery of London and the Prado and museums in China and Japan,” said Lewis. “So, we’re really pleased and excited.”
The conservation team plans to collaborate with other museums, art historians and curators in the effort. Conservation of artworks and objects can be necessary for a variety of reasons including, light, heat, improper storage conditions, dirt and human error.
One way the work may change is with the frame. Right now, it is displayed in an ornate frame.
“We do know from his sketch books that Degas designed frames, very simple wooden frames for his own works and that’s how we wanted them to be presented,” said Lewis.
Lewis said how an artwork is framed really changes the way its perceived.
Another element of the artwork in question is the varnish. Did a prior owner apply a varnish to the oil painting? A varnish is a clear solution that changes the color presentation. Lewis says the varnish could create a darker and glossier look than Degas originally intended.
Along with research there are a few methods to observe the piece and investigate the right conservation steps.
A more intricate piece of the conservation work is the technical examination, where they could use tools such as microscopes, infrared imaging, pigment analysis and X-rays.
The Chrysler Museum of Art will partner with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The museum in Richmond has a number of analytical tools to assist in the research, including an X-ray machine to help the conservators understand Degas’ work.
“The X-rays, just like an X-ray of a broken bone shows you where that is, X-rays of artwork can reveal what lies beneath the surface of things,” said Lewis.
Then, the chemical testing will happen at a later phase. It will examine the way the painting interacts with certain solvents. It’s a thorough process with cotton swabs, moving inch-by-inch over the surface as they monitor the work under microscopes.
“Everything we do is very slow, very careful, very methodical,” Lewis said.
The conservation process is only in its beginning phase.
In July, the piece will be displayed in the Oval Gallery next to an early piece by Degas from The Frick Collection in New York City. Visitors will be able to compare and contrast an early work of the artist to the later ballerina painting. Lewis said it will be an opportunity to understand the range of what an artist can do, and how their work can change overtime.
“It’s a really big project and if we didn’t have the support, we probably wouldn’t be able to undertake it,” said Lewis. “I mean, it’s such an important treasure that we need to understand and do this kind of research if we’re going to really make sure we give it the best possible treatment. And, understand it in a way that we never have before.”
In a press release, Erik H. Neil, Macon and Joan Brock Director of the Chrysler Museum of Art shared a statement.
“The Chrysler Museum is honored to be selected for the prestigious Art Conservation Project provided by Bank of America,” said Neil. “This preservation and restoration initiative funded by the bank is a catalyst for a focus exhibition this summer at the Museum featuring the artwork. The grant is invaluable to the Chrysler Museum, the Hampton Roads community, and art enthusiasts around the world.”
The grant and conservation work is a reminder of the world-class works available to see at the museum.
“This is world-class material that we, every week, get requests from museums around the world, the major museums,” said Lewis. “The best collections in the world, they want what we have. To do exhibitions they borrow works from our collection.”
Visit chrysler.org to find out more information about the painting, works on view and programming at the Chrysler Museum of Art.