Not that long ago, the restoration works of a masterpiece were almost a secret. Its divulgence, according to the experts, could create doubts about its authenticity and suggest manipulation. Neither the visitors were particulary interested in that type of studios. But times has changed and now people enjoys spectacular discoveries. There is a special interest in learning about the findings and the process followed to recover a work. Thus the Open Workshops were born.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum has organized the first Open Workshop with the restoration of  The Paradise, by Tintoretto. The visitors can now contemplate from the first row the restoration works of the painting and know what has appened to the canvas before working on it. “We have to find out how was the painting made, what happened to it and how to do to maintain that work for later generations”, affirms Ubaldo Sedano, chief of restoration area of the  Museum.

Two technicians of the museum will be responsible for returning to the canvas all its splendor. The task will be completed in January 2013, when the Museum will announce the results in an exhibition. The rooms are converted into a cabinet  of technical studies that offers a selection of macro-photography, x-rays and reflectography that illustrate the most interesting aspects of the studies.

The restoration was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Bank of America Merrill Lynch to mark the 50th anniversary of its installation in Spain. It also celebrates the 20th anniversary of the creation of the museum. MPR

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