by Conservation
9/20/2018
behind the scenes , conservation , Peter Paul Rubens , Samson and Delilah
Samson and Delilah by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) is heading out on loan next year and the borrower has requested a digital image for publication. The oil sketch is one of a few paintings in our collection that is framed in a special sealed-environment package. For this reason it’s rarely unframed. Our paintings conservator is taking advantage of the unframing to check on the painting’s condition and to do some minor cosmetic work on it. Samson and Delilah is painted on a thin hardwood panel made of two joined planks.
The join has failed in the past and been repaired, so the paint over the join has been retouched more than once in the four centuries since it was painted. Our paintings conservator will do a little touch-up on the old retouching to make the join less obvious, before sending Samson and Delilah to be photographed. Once it’s re-sealed in its framing package, the Rubens will be back on view until it goes out on loan next year.
The Cincinnati Art Museum is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign, the region's primary source for arts funding.
Free general admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is made possible by a gift from the Rosenthal Family Foundation. Exhibition pricing may vary. Parking at the Cincinnati Art Museum is free.
Generous support for our extended Thursday hours is provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
General operating support provided by: