Unrolled Canvases. Programme for Restoration of Large-Scale Paintings
From 26 January 2013
The Nicholas Hall of the Winter Palace (Room 191)

The exhibition is devoted to the extensive programme for restoration of large-scale pictures launched by the State Hermitage Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Easel Painting. One of the widespread methods of storing painted canvases in museums is rolling them up. This method has to be temporarily used either for the transportation of large-scale paintings, a few meters wide and long, or for their storage if the museum lacks space and can't afford storing them otherwise. As a result the canvases are unavailable both to the public and even specialists.

Put on display for the first time in long years are formal portraits of Count Alexey Orlov and Count (later Prince) Grigory Orlov executed by Vigilius Eriksen as well as the Sacrament of Penance by Friedrich Overbeck. Upon unrolling the canvases the specialists of the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Easel Painting carried out a complex of restoration procedures which returned the pictures to a displayable condition.