"John the Baptist" by Da Vinci are going to restore, but is it worth it?
ARTinvestment.RU   22 января 2016

Around messages about the upcoming restoration of the painting by Leonardo da Vinci "John the Baptist" (1513) has opened a heated debate. Some experts believe is harmful for the restoration work

a Guide of the Louvre announced that one of the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci in the collection of the Museum — painting "John the Baptist" (1513) — will go for restoration. This news has stirred the expert community. A number of specialists believe that renovations can damage the work.

However, according to the Louvre, the restoration of "John the Baptist". The last picture was cleaned more than 200 years ago in 1802. At this time, the upper layer of lacquer is strongly turned yellow, and if you don't do cleanup now, some of the most important for the perception of details (cross, fur Cape and strands of hair of John) can be quite indistinguishable. "Another 10 or 20 years ago they could have been a better look, now the details are hidden in the darkness", — said the chief conservator of the Louvre. The restoration will be carried out with the participation of at least 10 international specialists.

In recent times the controversy began in 2012 around the restoration of other paintings by Leonardo — "Saint Anna with Madonna and Christ child" (1503). Two experts in protest against its implementation even seceded from the restoration Committee.

Opponents of such interventions assume that the restoration may affect the original paint layer. "I don't mind if they were removed later layers of varnish, but I'm afraid that they may go on to affect the original layers that may be vulnerable to modern solvents, — explains his position one of the experts. — Image was reflected blurred and dark".

the Museum, in turn, insists that the intervention will be careful. "The main principles of our Department of painting — is prudence and pragmatism", — they say at the Louvre.

the Material was prepared by Maria Onuchin, AI

Sources: artnet.com, artinvestment.ru