{"id":4051,"date":"2015-06-11T11:55:26","date_gmt":"2015-06-11T11:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.museunacional.cat\/?p=4051"},"modified":"2015-06-17T08:01:05","modified_gmt":"2015-06-17T08:01:05","slug":"the-chronicle-of-a-large-size-painting-restoration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.museunacional.cat\/en\/the-chronicle-of-a-large-size-painting-restoration\/","title":{"rendered":"The chronicle of a large-size painting restoration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hercules Searching for the Hesperides<\/em> by Aleix Clap\u00e9s looks splendid once again in the Palau G\u00fcell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"After<\/a>

After the restoration<\/p><\/div><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

It has been over a century since\u00a0Aleix Clap\u00e9s<\/a>\u00a0took charge of the pictorial decoration of the Palau G\u00fcell, designed by Antoni Gaud\u00ed, to paint three versions, of different sizes, but practically identical, of Hercules Searching for the Hesperides<\/em>, one of the mythological scenes that the poet Jacint Verdaguer described in\u00a0L\u2019Atl\u00e0ntida<\/em><\/a>. Of the three, the largest, the mural that decorated the party wall of the Palau G\u00fcell, gradually deteriorated and has been lost, whilst the other two have been conserved in the Museu Nacional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"Aleix<\/a>

Aleix Clap\u00e9s, Self-portrait<\/em><\/a>, circa<\/em> 1902<\/p><\/div><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

A collaboration agreement with the Diputaci\u00f3 de Barcelona has made it possible to restore the large-size painting on canvas (420 x 345 cm), up until now rolled up inside acylinde rin the museum\u2019s reserves, and cede it under a contract of loan and restitution so it can be seen in the landing-vestibule of the main floor of the Palau G\u00fcell, where it completely adapts to the architectural surroundings, as do the rest of Clap\u00e9s\u2019s paintings that decorate the central lounge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"From<\/a>

From right to left: Carmen Perella, director of the Palau G\u00fcell, Pepe Serra, director of the Museu Nacional, Mireia Mestre, Head of Restoration of the Museu Nacional<\/p><\/div><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The third version is a small-size painting (74.5 x 69.9 cm) that probably served as a model for the other two compositions and for the formalization of the commission by Eusebi G\u00fcell<\/a>. This painting is exhibited in the galleries of the new Modern Art presentation, in vindication of a painter who was restless and daring, unconventional and without followers, who many people still do not know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\"Aleix<\/a>

Aleix Clap\u00e9s, Hercules Searching for the Hesperides<\/em><\/a>, circa<\/em> 1890<\/p><\/div><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The process of conservation and restoration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"011309-000_081677\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"011309-000_081681\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Aleix Clap\u00e9s, Hercules Searching for the Hesperides<\/em>, circa<\/em> 1890. Front and back, before the restoration<\/h6>\n