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