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Demovictory9

(32,324 posts)
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:19 AM Jun 2020

another famous painting ruined by restoration: Before and after (two attempts)

A botched restoration has left yet another famous painting unrecognizable.

This time, the restoration has left a painting of the Virgin Mary looking more like a kindergartener's lopsided self-portrait. The painting was a copy of "The Immaculate Conception of El Escorial," of the Virgin Mary was one of a famous series by the 17th-century Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The original version by Murillo is hanging in the Prado Museum in Madrid, and this copy is likely to be by Murillo as well, according to a statement from the Association of Conservators-Restorers (ACRE) of Spain. ACRE is an advocacy group that has publicized the botched artwork as part of an effort to change the rules around restoring paintings in the country.

According to a Spanish-language report in Europa Press, the private collector who owned the copy hired a furniture restorer to fix up the old painting. He returned the painting in an unrecognizable, smudged state. After the collector complained, the restorer made another attempt to fix the painting, and returned it looking even less like the original artwork.
https://www.livescience.com/murillo-painting-ruined-restoration.html

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another famous painting ruined by restoration: Before and after (two attempts) (Original Post) Demovictory9 Jun 2020 OP
A furniture restorer is not an artist. madaboutharry Jun 2020 #1
A furniture restorer? He took a PAINTING . . . to a furniture restorer? OneBro Jun 2020 #2
trying to save money??? Demovictory9 Jun 2020 #6
Ugh, those are just awful! 😢 nt Raine Jun 2020 #3
lol.. the 2nd attempt restored the upward glance, her neck, nose and lips Demovictory9 Jun 2020 #5
Yowza. I could do a better job and I can barely draw a stick figure. Marie Marie Jun 2020 #4
Someone with such a passion for Picasso's cubism, but such little talent... TreasonousBastard Jun 2020 #7
I'm sorry but that looks like one of those artists renderings Bradshaw3 Jun 2020 #8
WTF???????????? LeftInTX Jun 2020 #9
That is a travesty. Why would you take a painting like that to a furniture restorer?! Luciferous Jun 2020 #10
They should have sent it to The Repair Shop csziggy Jun 2020 #11
I feel like a 4th grader could have done better. EllieBC Jun 2020 #12
Housewives of New Jersey ? Captain Zero Jun 2020 #13
Another famous painting ruined by restoration: Before and after (two attempts). LenaBaby61 Jun 2020 #14
As a trained art historian and museum specialist with appalachiablue Jun 2020 #15
they are considering new laws after this debacle Demovictory9 Jun 2020 #16
Glad to know that, thanks. appalachiablue Jun 2020 #18
Restorations r Us lpbk2713 Jun 2020 #17
Some rich people can be stupidly cheap. Blue_true Jun 2020 #19

madaboutharry

(40,153 posts)
1. A furniture restorer is not an artist.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:27 AM
Jun 2020

Restoring fine art is a skill that takes years of training.

It seems to me that someone willing to undertake a project like this without the educational background and acquired skill did so with malicious intent.

What a pity.

OneBro

(1,159 posts)
2. A furniture restorer? He took a PAINTING . . . to a furniture restorer?
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:30 AM
Jun 2020

What result didst thou consider?

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
7. Someone with such a passion for Picasso's cubism, but such little talent...
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:41 AM
Jun 2020

should go back cleaning the restrooms in the Prado.

appalachiablue

(41,054 posts)
15. As a trained art historian and museum specialist with
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 05:46 AM
Jun 2020

a focus on Spanish Baroque art, this grotesque 'restoration' of a Murillo masterpiece copy pains me. There ought to be a law, crimes against artworks.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
19. Some rich people can be stupidly cheap.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 09:21 PM
Jun 2020

That painting must have been worth many millions before the attempt.

Why not hire and pay a proven, professional painting and portrait restorer who had done verifiable work for museums?

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