The Hermitage tapestry Assumption, Burial and Coronation from the Life of the Virgin series undergoes restoration at De Wit Royal Manufacturers of Tapestry in Mechelen, Belgium

In conjunction with the Metropolitan Museum, New York and De Wit Royal Manufacturers of Tapestry, Mechelen, Belgium, the State Hermitage is implementing an international programme to restore a tapestry from the Hermitage collection. This tapestry, indeed the entire series, is an adornment to the Hermitage collection, not only because of its high artistic quality, but also for its history. The four tapestries making up the Life of the Virgin series, woven in the early 16th century for Jacques d'Amboise, Bishop of Clermont, belonged in the 19th century to the collections of Alexander Bazilevsky and Prince Grigory Gagarin, and were reunited after their acquisition by the Imperial Hermitage in 1885-87.

At present the Life of the Virgin series is not on exhibited and kept in the museum's stores due to a poor state of preservation. The tapestries need to be washed and reinforced and have losses made good. Work of this nature cannot be carried out in the Hermitage's own restoration workshops and so the museum sought the services of the world-renowned De Wit Royal Manufacturers of Tapestry.

The De Wit company, which goes back over a hundred years (it was founded by Theo de Wit in 1889) possesses unique equipment, techniques and experience that make it possible to restore tapestries with considerable amounts of damage and loss. The factory carries out restoration work for many of the world's major museums, antique dealers and private collectors. De Wit's high reputation and the fact that it is a well-known name in museum and collecting circles prompted the Hermitage in its choice of partner. An additional consideration was the fact that the best restoration of Flemish tapestries can only be carried out in Flanders.

The international project to restore the Hermitage tapestry is not a commercial undertaking. Its purpose is to attract Russian and international funds to save a unique masterpiece from the Hermitage collection from destruction.

In March 2002, an exhibition entitled "Tapestry in the Renaissance: Art and Magnificence" is due to open in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (14 March - 19 June) and the restored Assumption, Burial and Coronation from the Hermitage collection will undoubtedly be one of its highlights.

Inspecting the tapestry in the foyer of the Hermitage Theatre before its departure for Belgium

Detail of the tapestry before restoration

The tapestry Assumption, Burial and Coronation from the Life of the Virgin series
Larger view