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WACC has provided conservation treatment for Norman Rockwell Museum collections for over twenty-five years. All of the Norman Rockwell images shown in this video are objects which the Center has helped to restore.
Rockwell's "The Song of Bernadette" (created for the 1943 movie of the same name) arrived at the Center with a series of horizontal cracks caused by a loss of canvas tension. According to paintings conservator Sandra Webber; "Norman sometimes forgot to put the keys (tightening wedges) in the corners of his stretchers. This causes the canvas to go slack." After keying the stretcher, the painting was cleaned of surface grime and the cracks in-painted. Cleaning was restricted, because Rockwell achieved a sense of depth in the picture by glazing with toned layers of varnish, which are integrated into the picture surface. In the course of restoration, Webber discovered that Rockwell had included the name "Bernadette" at the bottom of the painting. The studio over-painted the name before using the picture as the film's main poster image, including a 150-foot version that hung from a Broadway theater. (this article appeared in the November 2008 edition of WACC's "Art Conservator" magazine).
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Image credit: "Song of Bernadette," Norman Rockwell. 1944. Oil on canvas. Licensed by Norman Rockwell Licensing, Niles, IL.
Channels: American ArtConservationIllustrationPaper
Artists: Norman Rockwell
Themes: Materials and ProcessObjects
This video was created for Norman Rockwell Museum's new exhibition "Conserving Norman Rockwell's 'United Nations,'" which examines the process of restoring one of Rockwell's important charcoal studies. Leslie Paisley, Conservator of Paper Department Head at Williamstown Art Conservation Center, takes viewers through the process of treating a fragile work on paper through such means as aqueous water technique-- viewers, don't try this at home!
The exhibition "Conserving Norman Rockwell's 'United Nations'" explore the intricacies of art conservation, from initial evaluation to complete restoration. A step-by-step investigation to the Williamstown Art Conservation Centers methods of conserving Norman Rockwells large-scale symbolic portrayal of the United Nations and the peoples of the world will offer insights into a rarely seen but essential preservation process. On view starting May 2, 2009.
Video produced by Jeremy Clowe. ©2009 Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.
Thank you for your very descriptive video...I have had to restore several of my works which had rubber cement as an adhesive with a cardboard back (was done in the 60's)your process verifies what I was trying to do.
I had trouble with yellow discolouration and used ether, alternately with acetone but have concerns about future discolouration. Any suggestions?
Also am not sure how you re-line a work on paper and canvas. I have several large drawings on newsprint which are quite fragile and a few paintings with fragile areas.
Thanks again it was fun to see your process and the integrity of your work<>Dianne Bigelow
Hi Rita,
Thanks for your kind words regarding the video- it was fun to put together.
As far as purchasing original Rockwell lithographs, I would try contacting the Norman Rockwell Museum store: 413.298.4100, ext 224- they sell original artist proofs, which might interest you; they could also direct you to other authentic sources. Best, NRM
how can i learn more about purchasing a real norman lithograph, vs. a fake one? my husband loves norman rockwell work, but we were fooled before paying as much as $1,500 for "the boy 0on stilts" . we were told it was an original lithograph, and learned it was a fake reproduction, thank you, Rita Woidislawsky I ENJOYED THE VIDEO
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