Amsterdam. Eight art conservators began a painstaking process to remove a layer of varnish from Rembrandt’s mammoth masterpiece ‘The Night Watch’, revealing its original depth and color.
The task, which could take years, began on Tuesday at the Rijksmuseum national gallery in Amsterdam.
“Rembrandt painted with a very clear contrast between light and dark and that had become much less obvious in the painting. So I think that once restored it will have much more depth and the figures in the painting will come to life,” said the director of the museum, Taco Dibbits.
In the first phase of five years of work, which included research into the delicate process of removing the varnish, the 3.8 by 4.5 meter canvas was re-stretched.
The next phase of ‘Operation Night Watch‘, the most extensive restoration of the work, will also help preserve the painting for future generations and repair any damage.
A handkerchief soaked in a very small amount of solvent is placed on the surface of the painting and the varnish dissolves, explained restorer Ige Verslype, showing how the yellowish tint had been removed.
The Rijksmuseum, the most popular museum in the Netherlands, is visited by more than 2 million people a year.
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