25/03/10Restoration of a Jean-Siméon Chardin's masterpiece in Canada

As part of its program to support the restoration of works in museums, the BNP Paribas Foundation and BNP Paribas (Canada) have decided to lend their support to the restoration of a painting by Jean-Siméon Chardin (1699-1779), one of the masterpieces of the collection housed by the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.

About the masterpiece
The 1758 oval painting, called “Jar of Apricots”, closely resembles another painting, “The Cut Melon”, currently kept in a private collection in Paris. This simple and uncluttered composition, with its objects placed with great precision and depicted using thick brushstrokes and vibrant light, is characteristic of Chardin's art, one of the greatest French artists of the 18th century.

Damaged by time and by treatments undergone during past restorations, the work has a yellowed varnish that alters the transparency of its colours. It also has touch-ups, cracks, and liftings that will be closely analyzed and examined by specialists from the Canadian Conservation Institute before any restoration work begins.

About the Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest institutions in North America. Located in a building redesigned by the great architect Frank Gehry, a native of Toronto, the museum reopened its doors in 2008. With more than 79,000 works of art, its collections are displayed in large themed areas, harmoniously blending wood and glass and allowing visitors to admire a large variety of works. The paintings, sculptures, graphic works, and photography form a complete panorama of art history, from ancient to modern and contemporary collections from Europe and Canada, as well as extraordinary items in the African Art Gallery.

About the BNP Paribas Foundation
Under the aegis of the Fondation de France, the BNP Paribas Foundation strives to preserve and publicize the rich holdings of museums, encourage artists and performers in disciplines that are under-supported by corporate sponsorship, and fund medical research programs in cutting-edge industries. The BNP Paribas Foundation also supports education, social integration, and disabled projects. The point of reference in the group in the matter of arts funding, and working closely with its networks in France and abroad, the BNP Paribas Foundation backs each of its programs for its entire duration.
www.mecenat.bnpparibas.com

Regular news on the actions of the BNP Paribas Group and its employees in the area of social responsibility can be found on the website pourunmondequichange.com

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