conservation work
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After
Zoffany’s “The Last Supper” at St. John’s Church, Kolkata
ICI, Kolkata in collaboration with Max Mueller Bhavan restored renowned German painter Johann Zoffany’s masterpiece oil painting titled “The Last Supper”, measuring 10 ft. X 12 ft at St. John’s Church in Kolkata in 2010. The conservation project was headed by Ms. Renate Kant, well-known German art restorer based in Singapore. In nearly 6 months the project was completed and the painting was unveiled before a large gathering in St. John’s Church on July 4, 2010. The masterpiece was gifted by Zoffany in 1787 to the St. John’s Church – the first British built Anglican Church in Kolkata, at the time of its consecration. The painter’s signature, thumb impression and date are given at the right-lower corner of the painting.
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Fibreglass painting by Anjolie Ela Menon
ICI, Kolkata restored Anjolie Ela Menon’s painting done on fibreglass sheets spread over 10 panels (five nos. of size 48” X 64” and five nos. of size 48” X 32”). The painting depicts a typical railway platform scene, was gifted to the Metro Railways Authority, Kolkata and is prominently installed at the Esplanade Metro Station.
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Bamboo Craft (size: 204.5 cm x 140 cm)
A typical Tripura bamboo craft item gifted by the Maharaja of Tripura to Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose. It occupies pride of place in the drawing room at Acharya Bhavan. The damaged cane items were carefully repaired and restored at ICI, Kolkata. The extremely painstaking procedure involving minute corrective actions was completed satisfactorily.
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Oil Paintings
ICI, Kolkata received 10 oil paintings – portraits of freedom fighters from Mahajati Sadan for restoration. The paintings were extremely fragile in condition, with flaking, cracks, loss of support, loss of paint layer, warping, stains, dust and dirt etc. Conservation treatment method involved application of a suitable consolidant on flaked paint layer; surface cleaning; mending of lost portion and lining given for strengthening the painting; re-stretched on a clean stretcher, reintegration was done whenever required and a protective coat applied finally.
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After
Leather Shields
ICI, Kolkata restored two pieces of shields made of leather with brass and copper studs, which were displayed in a permanent exhibition at the Danish Governor’s House in Serampore. The Danish East India Company had set up its trading establishment in Serampore (during the Raj era). A zamindari ruled by the Goswami family, maintained a small militia which was armed with muskets and swords.
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After
Terracotta Object (size 15-inch x 7 inch)
ICI, Kolkata received this terracotta object from a private collector. The object was broken in several pieces (approx. 26 nos.) and required restoration.
All the broken pieces were aligned in sequence and joined with suitable adhesive, finally a retouch and protective coating was applied.
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After
Diary
A private collector’s vintage diary of 1889 period was received by ICI, Kolkata for restoration. It was in an extremely fragile condition. The diary was fumigated, dry brushed then its folios digitised and decalcified, it was given a full lining with conservation tissue paper and finally rebinding.
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After
Pattachitra (fabric) Painting:
A pattachitra of size 38 cm x 45.7 cm, depicting the images of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra,Subhadra and other gods and goddesses was received by ICI, Kolkata from a private art collector. The paintings had fungus, stains, flaking of paint layer, loss of paint layer, warping, darken varnish, dust and dirt etc. The treatment method for conservation involved: fumigation, application of suitable consolidant, cleaning the surface, removal of darkened varnish and flatting; given new lining on new canvas, reintegration of colour where required, application of a layer of protective coat and finally the painting was reframed with old cleaned frame.
