Latest news with #ABurialatOrnans
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- LeMonde
At Musée d'Orsay, a Courbet painting gets a new life before visitors' eyes
Artisinal precision and unwavering patience: In the main gallery of Paris' Musée d'Orsay, a side arcade has become a sensation. Visitors crowd between the signs "Poitiers" and "Limoges" (western French cities) to witness an unusual spectacle. Behind plexiglass panels, a small team of restorers is hard at work breathing new life into this celebrated painting by Gustave Courbet (1819-1877): Un Enterrement à Ornans (A Burial at Ornans). Since early June, the monumental canvas – 6.68 meters long and 3.15 meters high – has been restored in public view. Every Thursday morning, three groups of 12 people each enjoy a guided visit that brings them up close to the work. Inside the restorers' area, scaffolding, spotlights and renovation tools surround the realistic painting. During half an hour, the professionals explain the history of the work, the nature of their craft and the various stages in the restoration process. This free visit is open to all by reservation. "It's fascinating. I didn't realize how many scientific skills were required for restoration," said Sylvie, a retired sales manager, as she left the visit. "It made me want to come back in the coming months to see how the project is progressing." The visits will pause in August and resume in September.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AP PHOTOS: Paris' Orsay Museum opens up the wonders of art restoration to the public gaze
AP PHOTOS: Paris' Orsay Museum opens up the wonders of art restoration to the public gaze PARIS (AP) — As they painstakingly scrape grime off a monumental painting by French artist Gustave Courbet, the restorers do a remarkable job of ignoring their unusual surroundings: They're watched by crowds of people, many recording on mobile phones. Paris' Orsay Museum has thrown open to the public a process that often happens behind closed doors. The cleaning and repairs to 'A Burial at Ornans," one of the museum's signature works that Courbet painted between 1849 and 1850, are taking place in a bespoke enclosure with windows for visitors to peer through. 'A great idea,' said Jennifer Dasal, a visiting art historian from North Carolina. 'If it's lasting for a while, people can come back and they can watch the restoration over time.' ADVERTISEMENT The restoration is expected to take about a year. The painting hasn't had a major overhaul for about 50 years. Layers of varnish that yellowed over time have dulled Courbet's colors. The weight of the huge work has deformed its frame, and its canvas has stitching, folds and tears that need attention. The museum also plans free guided tours of their work for those who register on its website, with three time slots every Thursday morning from June 5. The Associated Press
