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Panorama (XXL)

Conservation and research of a panorama landscape painted on paper

In the summer of 2022, the Rijksmuseum displayed a magnificent panorama measuring 23 metres long and 180 cm high. Its provenance and function were investigated.

About the project

During preparations for the move of the museum storage from Lelystad to the new Netherlands Collection Centre in Amersfoort six rolled up European landscapes were photographed that had probably not been unrolled since 1962. The panoramas were probably made in the mid-19th century. Two are printed on a hand-painted background and were probably made by the French company Zuber & Cie. The other four are entirely hand-painted. It is not known who made these panoramas or the purpose they served. The research focuses on the largest of the panoramas, 23 metres in length, displaying a magnificent, entirely hand-painted Mediterranean landscape.

Aim of the project

The panorama has been investigated in preparation for the XXL Paper exhibition in the summer of 2022, necessitating a combination of art-historical, archival and scientific research. The areas in the panorama that have been wet at some stage in the past and have thus become damaged and moldy, have been conserved and cleaned.

Related events

  • Exhibition XXL paper at the Rijksmuseum in the summer of 2022.

Staff

Maud van Suylen
Junior curator drawings
m.van.suylen@rijksmuseum.nl

Femke Coevert
Paper conservator
f.coevert@rijksmuseum.nl

Aafke Weller
Former Junior paper conservator

Dafne Diamante
Former Junior paper conservator

Idelette van Leeuwen
Head of the Paper and Photograph Workshop
i.van.leeuwen@rijksmuseum.nl

Leila Sauvage
Paper conservator/Researcher
l.sauvage@rijksmuseum.nl

Katrien Keune
Head of Science
k.keune@rijksmuseum.nl

Partners and sponsors

The conservation of the panoramic landscape is made possible by the Bank ten Cate & Cie. Fund/Rijksmuseum Fund.

Publications

The panorama during photography in Lelystad, 2018.

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Part of the Mediterranean landscape.

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X-ray fluorescence analysis is carried out to help identify the colourants.

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Dry cleaning of the gouache painting on paper.

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A seam in the cotton lining is unstitched.

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The cotton lining is partly removed to enable the treatment of the paper support.

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Stabilising and mending a tear.

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Een restaurateur die bezig is met een behang Een restaurateur die bezig is met een behang

The mold stains are visually reduced by applying a thin layer of adhesive with an airbrush.

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Reinforcing the paper support in the mold-damaged areas.

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Paper conservation tools.

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Reinforcing the paper support in the mold-damaged areas.

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Reinforcing the object by lining it with Japanese paper and wheat starch paste.

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Images