Isn’t there a movie or skit of Mr. Bean cleaning and then retouching a painting?! I never thought we’d see the real deal. Last week as this story leaked out onto the international news networks, I began having people mention this “news item” to me. When the number inquiring what I thought grew to 9, I began keeping a tally. The number of people that have now contacted me regarding my thoughts on this story is 31!
This seems like a funny news item to “go international.” I mean, the image of the “art restoration” is an attention getter but… you should know that this type of thing happens ALL THE TIME!
Actually there are two parts of the discussion I’ve been privy to: the international layman’s discussion in the news and a private discussion among other professional art conservators on the net. My point of view is that I can’t believe this merits anyone’s time or attention.
In case you’ve missed what we’re talking about, here’s the before and after photo of a painting restoration job in Spain of an Old Master painting of Christ where an old woman “restored” the flaking picture belonging to a church.
Some people have re-titled the restored painting
“Behold, the Monkey!”
As I said before, this isn’t such an uncommon thing and something horrific usually happens when do-it-your-selfers start restoring historical items (there are standards, guidelines, ethics to follow). For example, I was conducting a tour of my lab and was demonstrating how I use the stereobinocular microscope to get a very close/accurate look when I test the dissolving power of solvents for cleaning a painting. One of the attendees looked at the bottle of solvent I was utilizing, and asked if that was what I would use to clean the picture. I said no because it would damage the original paint I was testing. A couple of days later, this man comes back to the lab with a gorgeous $35,000 picture he had tried to clean with the solvent I was testing in the lab. He had ruined the painting by dissolving off the original paint. I irritatingly told him what he had done to this wonderful work of art and its monetary value. He got mad at me and said it was MY FAULT cause I had not taught him how to properly do it! He never lets anybody fix his stuff cause he does everything himself. I kicked him out of my lab… the only person in my life that has ever been “escorted out” of my lab.
Here’s another example of an inept “restoration” that is in my lab right now. The face on the right is original and the face on the left has been previously repainted for the purpose of “restoration.” While its better than a monkey face, it still is a laugh:
There is a funny side to the story of “Behold the Monkey”: the church is getting more visitors than ever and they may consider it has more value in its present repainted “look.” Here’s the video link. I’ve never seen so much attention given to conservation before in such an amusing way…
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbcnews.com/48803079
So, this item is becoming valuable as what?? A sideshow attraction?? The professional art conservation field has gone hyper-sensitive at this thought! If the public starts looking at bad restoration as an art form, it could begin a shock wave of reckless vandalism… the end of civilization as we know it!!!!!!
“Can this ruined work of art be recouped?” Fair question. Well, yes but the price for proper, safe art conservation treatments has just sky rocketed; The sad fact we see often is that about 80% of the items that come into our lab have been goofed with in the not too distant past… and some of them come directly from the “restorer” to be fixed by our lab... on the same day! In this case we charge, of course, for the time and effort to take off any previous bungled restorations. You pay for other’s sins (in keeping with the message of this bugled restoration of the painting of Christ).
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31 thoughts on ““Restored” Painting of Christ in Spain – “Behold, the Monkey!””
Christopher McAfee
Great insights, Scott. Thanks.
August 29, 2012Katja Davidson
It is sad that it happens often, we just never hear about it, so it was surprising to me to see it. I thought churches would only hire professionals to restore their artwork. I guess I am a bit naive. 🙂
August 29, 2012Jack
It is sad to see that most churches really don’t care who restores their paintings and thanks for bringing this out Scott. I find everything you write to be of excellent value.
September 3, 2012Meg
That is shocking that the church would not take care of their artwork and would not look into who restores it properly. I am glad you discussed this because the church should care more about restoring artwork than it sounds like it does 🙁
September 4, 2012Yvette
The church should be ashamed of itself for not taking pride in valuables. Shame on them.
September 5, 2012Amber
That is sad how the church would be so negligent. Thanks for bringing this out.
September 6, 2012Jake
You know I have to say, hearing this kind of thing does not surprise me. I am glad you are there to care enough to write about this. There is never an excuse for the church to not care about these sacred paintings.
September 8, 2012Ben
This is absolutely horrific that the church would not care. Wow. I am honestly speechless.
September 9, 2012Rob
Inexcusable on the church’s part. Thanks for shedding the light on us about this.
September 10, 2012Nick
That makes me doubt the church even more. How it can not care about its precious valuables is beyond me.
September 12, 2012Ian
The scary thing is that Mr. Bean probably does a better job in restoring than many others do. Disappointed to hear this about the church as well.
September 13, 2012KJ
This is very hypocritical of the church to be so indifferent like this.
September 16, 2012Dawn
Thanks for letting people know about this Scott. That is inexcusable.
September 17, 2012Casey
Not surprising. By the way Scott, I am a big fan of your writing.
September 18, 2012Mandy Tess
Wow just shows how little the church really cares
September 19, 2012Daniela
I actually would have more faith in Mr. Bean restoring my precious art after reading this! Shame shame.
September 20, 2012Tom
My respect for the church just went south
September 20, 2012Frank
Horrifying indeed. Thanks for bringing this to our attention Scott.
September 20, 2012T. Kris
I am in shock. How can the church be so negligent?
September 20, 2012Rhonda
I am speechless
September 21, 2012Don
Scott, great article and great insights but sad to read about this.
September 21, 2012Hans
If I was the church I would be mortified, shame on them.
September 21, 2012Cindy Sepatu
What a crazy story and horrible thing to happen to a nice painting….
January 11, 2013Francis Mason
It is very difficult to restore the historical things like painting, jewelry, arms etc. I like this blog lots because you mention lots of valuable stuff in your article which is very interesting about restoration. We do restoration after floods and fires and you’ve touched on info that is hard for us to deal with. In fact, we almost always sub contract this work out to a specialist.
January 23, 2013Belfor Atlanta Mold Removal
I saw a mention of this on the Internet, but I thought it was someone who had tried to paint it and failed miserably. I’m laughing/crying that this is real.
January 25, 2013Scott M. Haskins
I know that this type of restoration is exactly the type and quality of work that Belfor avoids when they are helping to respond to a disaster. Thanks for leaving a note. We like working with Belfor. We feel honored that you trust us and consider us your experts.
January 28, 2013Jade
It’s just best they leaved it alone
January 29, 2013Sepatu Marelli
So, this item is becoming valuable as what?? A sideshow attraction?? The professional art conservation
April 7, 2013best regards
Sepatu Marelli
Ben King
This is very unfortunate. As an artist I hate to see work as good as this used to be. Destroyed in a sense. It’s a piece of history that will never go back to the way it was.
May 10, 2013Jual Jaket Kulit Murah
The church should be ashamed of itself for not taking pride in valuables. Shame on them.
May 11, 2013Matt Lacy
That is very sad to see, I guess the person who did it was just trying to help
May 30, 2013Comments are closed.