Conservation and Restauration

The Conservation and Restoration department ensures that the museum’s collection remains in tip-top condition and that the approximately 500 objects that are loaned to museums all over the world each year travel safely.

Works on paper are restored by the department’s own staff. Other objects are restored in partnership with respected external experts. In addition to treating the works, the restorers also make condition reports and object analyses and provide advice on loans and display methods. The museum has its own restoration budget, but also receives financial support from corporations, individuals and organisations such as the BankGiro Lottery.
Some examples of recent restorations:

‘Egoism’ and ‘Danger de la Force’ by Francis Picabia

‘Egoism’ and ‘Danger de la Force’ by Francis Picabia were both suffering from loosening of the paint layers, which have now been consolidated. Additionally, the piece of hardboard on which ‘Egoism’ is painted had become bent. It was therefore fitted with a framework on the back so that it can travel safely in its original frame. The two paintings were shown in a major retrospective of Picabia’s work at the Kunsthaus Zürich and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Restored with support from Kunsthaus Zürich, MoMA and the Van Beek Family Fund.

Francis Picabia, Danger de la Force, 1947-1950, purchase Stichting Fonds Willem van Rede, 1999

Francis Picabia, Egoism, 1947-1950, purchase with support of the Mondriaan Fund, 1996

'Hunting Still Life with a Swan' by Peeter Boel

The painting ‘Hunting Still Life with a Swan’ by Peeter Boel from circa 1645 had an extremely yellowed varnish layer, discoloured retouches and many sharp splits in the paint layer. The varnish layer and discoloured retouches were removed and the cohesion of the paint layer has been improved. The painting has now been returned to its original splendour. It will be on loan for five years to the Musée départemental de Flandre in Cassel, France.

Restored with the support of the Musée départemental de Flandre, Cassel

Hunting Still Life with a Swan, Peeter Boel, circa 1645, purchase 1864

Cradle by W.H. Gispen

W.H. Gispen designed this oak cradle in 1918 for his own children. The base had become unstable because the glue Gispen used had dried out. Other components of the cradle had become loose or were missing. These defects have been remedied and the cradle has also been cleaned and treated with a neutral, transparent layer of wax. The cradle was displayed in 2016 in the exhibition ‘Gispen Specials – The Customer is Always Right’.