All conservation treatment of works in the GMU collections is only performed by trained conservators licensed in their respective fields by Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
In 2021, nine works of art were restored. Funds from the cultural ministry’s grant program were used to finance the costs. The following works were restored with a grant from the Ministry of Culture:
During the restoration process, a detailed examination of the damaged parts allowed us to identify Emil Hlavica’s work as St. Joseph, previously documented as “Saint”, with certainty. We were also able to stabilize the damaged sculpture of Kurt Gebauer’s Housenka in cooperation with the author to prevent further destruction, thereby increasing safety in storage, exhibition, and any necessary handling.
KURT GEBAUER, CATERPILLAR,(PERESTROJKY), 1987,
PAINTED FIBERGLASS LAMINATE,
HEIGHT: 138 CM, PHOTO SOURCE: GMU archive
In 2020, a total of 24 paintings, sculptures, statues and works on paper were restored or underwent restoration treatment, out of which 12 works of art were restored thanks to funds received through a subsidy scheme of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
The ministerial subsidy scheme provided funds to restore the following works of art: Blue Corridor by Karel Malich, Pratt’s painting called A Child with Poultry, Friar – a sculpture by Josef Heu; Girlfriend – a painting by Vladimír Sychra , Still Life with a Palette and Bread – a painting by Václav Hejna, Portrait of T.G. Masaryk – a sculpture by Josef Škoda, another sculpture by Vincenc Makovský – Portrait of T.G.Masaryk, Archer – a sculpture by Ladislav Zívr, St. George – sculpture by Josef Škoda, Jan Žižka – sculpture by Ladislav Kotík, Bathing by Pravoslav Kotík and Notre Dame by Adolf Doležal.
During conservation works, we were able to track one piece to its creator, Josef Heu (1876-1952), who was an academic and sculptor based in Vienna. Until then, his authorship had been unclear. Apart from that, works that are part of The Last Century – Twenty Artists exhibition underwent treatment that involved conservation, restoration, and cleaning. So did 12 works that are part of The Last Fifty Years exhibition.
In 2018-2020, GMU collaborated with Jan Kyncl, a conservator, in his research into conservation of works of art made from unstable material. This has been a rather serious issue as plastic materials deteriorate rapidly in quality. The gallery provided Mr. Kyncl with a statue called Lovers by Vítězslav Jungbauer (created in 1958). For its creation Jungbauer used an unusual technique involving several layers of coated play dough. Kyncl’s research and conservation treatment were successful, and the sculpture was restored, as it was getting physically unstable. Currently, the sculpture is stored in dark place in a special box where 18°C temperature is constantly maintained. For more information on the project, see the press release.
In 2019, a total of 75 paintings and works on paper were restored or underwent restoration treatment, out of which 36 works of art were restored thanks to funds received through the ISO subsidy scheme of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The works in question are listed below:
Vltava at the Karlín Ferry, Still Life, Bridge in Hlubočepy by Miroslav Holý, Still Life with a Blue Pitcher by Bohumil Kubišta, Easter Motif by Josef Jíra. Also on the list is a set of unique works of Asian origin. Notable Asian pieces include Shrimps by Qi Baishi-a black ink painting, followed by a print called Sitting Geisha by Japanese master Utagawa Toyokuni. Apart from that, works that are part of Josef Doubrava – Art Lover and Sponsor exhibition underwent treatment that involved conservation, restoration, and cleaning. So did 39 works that are part of Landscape Hidden Inside the World – Pictures of the Orlické Mountains exhibition. Ilya Repin’s work Procession in the Oak Forest underwent costly conservation treatment as well. Currently, it is on display at Gallery of Fine Arts in Náchod, where it was loaned by GMU.
In 2018, a total of 15 works of art were restored or underwent restoration treatment, thanks to funds received through the ISO d subsidy scheme of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The works and their authors are listed below:
Still Life by František Muzika, Painter by Emil Filla, Landscape With a Church, Harvest by Vincenc Beneš, Two Submarines by Kamil Lhoták, A Pond with Seagulls by Antonín Chitussi, Madonna and Child by Josef Scheiwlel, Immaculata by František Ženíšek Jr., Madonna by František Urban, A Path in the Woods by František Ženíšek, a painting and a print by Max Švabinský depicting Bishop Josef Doubrava, Forest by Julius Mařák(two drawings) and Refugees by Jindřich Vlček.
