Restoration: What It Is and How to Do It Right – 8 Unsuccessful Examples

Contents:

• The Concept of Restoration in an Artistic Context
• Fluffy Jesus
• Leonardo: Two Unresolved Questions Through the Centuries
• Rembrandt: Majestic Darkness Once Illuminated by Day
• Murillo and the Furniture Maker
• The Journey of Buddhist Frescoes: From Ancient Traditions to Modern Cartoons
• When They Damage Three-Dimensional
• Lessons from Art Disasters

There are professions where a mistake can have catastrophic consequences, such as neurosurgery, mine clearance, or piloting. However, there are also activities where one wrong brush stroke can erase five meters of history. Welcome to the field of art restoration—a field where good intentions can turn masterpieces into memes faster than the next TikTok video can go viral.

We want to share the importance of restoration and explain why it should be taken seriously. We will also share stories about the most tragic cases involving damage to works of art.

The Concept of Restoration in an Artistic Context

Restoration can be compared to surgery: it uses microscopes, X-ray machines, infrared scanners, and chemical solvents, just like in chemistry textbooks. The objects being worked on suffer from microcracks, craquelure, varnish darkened by age, and paint that can begin to deteriorate and crumble.

Painting restoration begins long before the artist begins work with a brush in hand.

First, diagnostics are carried out, and this process is significantly more complex and thoughtful than in any medical facility.

Ultraviolet lamps reveal signs of previous manipulations.

X-ray examination makes it possible to detect hidden compositions beneath the top layer of paint - sometimes entire works of art can be found there, which the artist covered up in order to try to create something new.

Studying the layered structure under a microscope allows us to determine the authenticity of each fragment of the painting, as well as to distinguish between the authorship of the artist and his students or subsequent restorers.

The official Restoration Passport reflects all chemical studies of material samples, pigment analysis, and technology research. This document contains the results of the analyses, a detailed description of the condition of the cultural heritage site, and a comprehensive list of planned work.

The optimal option for making decisions about the fate of works of art is the work of an entire Restoration Council, consisting of representatives of the museum, restorers, and independent experts. Such collective discussion contributes to a more objective approach to the work of specialists - in fact, in the ideal case.

In the field of restoration, there is a term "renewal", which refers to the process of covering old paintings with new layers of paint in order to update their appearance. This practice was common in the past, when clergy or art owners would often paint over faded fragments, disregarding the original color scheme or the artist's skill. The results of such actions ranged from unsuccessful to downright destructive.

The ethics of the modern restoration process are based on two basic principles.

1. All materials used must be chemically neutral with respect to the monument's structure, so as not to cause any chemical reactions.

2. No restoration operation should result in a reduction in the material, historical, or aesthetic value of the object. None of these values!

Departing from the fundamental principles produces the exact opposite result: the attempt to restore physical stability often leads to the loss of such important aspects as color, shade, and texture.

The fundamental principle of modern restoration is the concept of reversibility. All actions taken by the restorer can be undone later.

• Losses are compensated for by a neutral hue or a special texture that harmonizes with the original from a distance, but becomes noticeable upon close inspection.
• Only reliable materials that have undergone many years of testing are used.
• Within this paradigm, strengthening the color layer is an independent field of expertise. To process paintings with minor defects, solutions of a unique sturgeon glue, improved with the addition of honey, are used.

Works of art can be created on a wide variety of materials, and paintings are often subject to mechanical damage, tears, and peeling of the paint layer and primer. When the base loses its ability to support the upper layers, the paint begins to delaminate and form a flaky mass. The canvas can be stretched on a stretcher, wound on a roller, rolled into a roll, or simply folded. In addition, paintings can be executed on cardboard or wooden panels. Each of these conditions requires a special approach and attention.

What happens in situations where all the basic principles are ignored?

Let's pay attention to unsuccessful restoration attempts, when human intervention in infinity led to catastrophic consequences.

Fluffy Jesus

In 2012, in the Spanish town of Borja, home to about five thousand residents, eighty-two-year-old Cecilia Jimenez observes the deteriorating 19th-century fresco located in the local church. This work of art, known as Ecce Homo, depicts Christ wearing a crown of thorns and was created by artist Elias García Martínez. Cecilia is full of good intentions, but has no painting skills. However, she does have brushes and paints, which she intends to use.

The result was beyond all expectations. The Savior's sad expression transformed into an image that instantly earned the online nickname "Fluffy Jesus" or "Monkey Christ."

At first, many dismissed the incident as an act of vandalism. However, when it became known that it was a restoration attempt, a scandal erupted, attracting international attention. And then something astonishing happened: economics triumphed over aesthetics. The small town of Borja became a true tourist mecca. In just two years since the incident, over 150,000 people have visited it, with people from all over the world eager to see the spectacle with their own eyes.

Cecilia Jimenez has unexpectedly found herself in the spotlight. Her mural has sparked a flurry of memes. The city, in turn, has managed to profit by creating a whole line of souvenirs, including even a wine called Ecce Homo.

Although the original fresco is irretrievably lost, few people care, as memes and the euros brought in by tourists take center stage.

Leonardo: Two Unresolved Questions Through the Ages

Even the most famous museums around the world face high-profile scandals. For example, between 2010 and 2012, the restoration of Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne," housed in the Louvre, sparked much controversy. After removing layers of dirt and darkened varnish, the artwork became so vibrant that two museum curators resigned in protest.

According to them, the restorers illuminated the painting, giving it a richness that surpasses even Leonardo's own intentions.

The museum maintains that all restoration work was carried out correctly, and we can now appreciate the artist's true colors. The debate on this issue continues to this day.

The philosophical question is what is more significant: the original idea conceived by the artist, or the image that has formed in cultural memory over the course of half a century?

As for "The Last Supper," this fresco, considered one of the most famous in the world, has undergone numerous restorations, probably around a billion. One of the worst restoration attempts occurred in the 18th century, when the artist Giuseppe Mazza, seeking to improve Leonardo's work, decided to paint over it with oil paints. As a result, they quickly began to peel off and fall into disrepair.

The restoration, carried out between 1978 and 1999, remains controversial. Opponents of this work insist that the process removed excessive amounts of Leonardo's original paint. Meanwhile, supporters of the restoration argue that without such measures, the fresco could have been completely destroyed.

Rembrandt: Majestic Darkness Once Illuminated by Day

"The Night Watch" is considered one of the most outstanding works of Dutch Baroque, it is an iconic work by Rembrandt and is the pride of the Rijksmuseum. However, it is worth noting that this masterpiece originally did not have a title associated with night time. The action in the painting takes place in daylight.

The work of art was called "The Departure of the Rifle Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq." However, over time, the varnish on the painting darkened significantly, and the bright daytime scene changed beyond recognition, becoming similar to a night spectacle. As a result, this name was stuck with the work.

The romance is certainly present. However, this does not fully reflect the writer's intention.

Restoration work carried out in the 1940s only exacerbated the problem. To make the painting lighter, a thick layer of varnish was applied, which darkened over time. Attempts to remove this varnish damaged the original colors applied by Rembrandt.

The painting is currently undergoing the most extensive restoration ever throughout its history, which was called Operation Night Watch. This process is carried out in a specially equipped glass pavilion located in the museum, allowing visitors to observe the progress of the work.

Technologies are used that Rembrandt could not have imagined: every millimeter of his works is scanned and analyzed using artificial intelligence. This process will take many years and will require an investment of millions of euros.

Murillo and the Furniture Maker

In the seventeenth century, within the Spanish Baroque, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was an outstanding artist. His paintings of the Virgin Mary were distinguished by their striking beauty and lightness, captivating viewers.

A copy of his work "Immaculate Conception", located in a private collection, required cleaning. The owner turned to a specialist in furniture restoration. After all, wood is just wood, and paint is paint.

The expert approached the task with confidence and simply updated the image of the Virgin Mary by repainting it. However, instead of a graceful and spiritual image, a caricature emerged, reminiscent of a doll from a sex shop.

Another attempt was made to correct the original work, but it only worsened the situation. As a result, the image of the Virgin Mary's face became an illegible stain.

The Madonna incident served as a decisive factor: in 2020, Spain adopted stricter regulations on restoration, as well as introducing mandatory licensing for professionals in this field.

The Journey of Buddhist Frescoes: From Ancient Traditions to Modern Cartoons

The frescoes, belonging to the Buddhist art of the Qin Dynasty (907-1125), in the Yunjie Temple in China were in an extremely poor state, practically crumbling. The situation was quite alarming. A local contractor was selected to carry out the restoration work.

As a result, the ancient, delicate, and spiritually rich images were completely obscured by bright, cartoonish illustrations.

Not only were the tones altered, but the narratives themselves were restored: history was restored.

When they spoil volumetrically

Restoration disasters are not limited to paintings. Sometimes much larger objects are affected.

Spain, of course, ranks first in the series of failed restoration attempts. In 2018, a 500-year-old wooden statue of Saint George, housed in the Church of San Miguel de Estella in Navarre, underwent a "restoration," leaving the medieval warrior looking like a cartoon character.

A local art teacher, unqualified as a restorer, decided to transform the saint's image using bright neon hues. He added rosy cheeks and doll-like eyes, making Saint George resemble a toy from a Happy Meal set.

Both parties — the church and the "restorer" — were fined 6,000 euros. To correct the defects, $37,000 was invested, along with three months of skilled labor.

In 2016, a section of the Great Wall of China dating back to the Ming Dynasty and 1381 was subjected to demolition work: it was simply rolled in a mixture of lime and sand, turning the historic fortress into a smooth surface path. All characteristic elements, including battlements, towers, and other architectural details, were completely hidden under a layer of cement.

Read also:

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Lessons from art disasters

All these narratives, from "Fluffy Jesus" to the carefully cemented Great Wall, must convey something significant to us.

• Positive intentions cannot act as a substitute for professional skills.
• Cultural heritage is an area in which one cannot afford to make mistakes. There is no opportunity to correct your mistakes.
• Time is also an important element of a work of art. Patina, cracks, darkened varnish - all these signs do not simply indicate damage. They are a reflection of history, the path this artifact has traveled. Attempts to restore its original form often lead to a loss of cultural context.

Perhaps this is the key message of all these stories: cultural heritage does not exist in isolation. It develops in the context of economics, politics, human failings, and unexpected circumstances. Sometimes the most successful restoration is the one that was never done at all.

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