ThoughtGallery.org > Conservator’s Talk: Aspects of L.A. Ring’s Working Methods

Conservator’s Talk: Aspects of L.A. Ring’s Working Methods

The Bruce Museum exhibition, On the Edge of the World: Masterworks by Laurits Andersen Ring from SMK—the National Gallery of Denmark (February 1 – May 24, 2020), will be accompanied by a series of special programs and events, beginning with a Conservator’s Talk: Aspects of L.A. Ring’s Working Methods, on Sunday, February 2, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.

Dr. Jørgen Wadum, former Director of Conservation at SMK and current Director of the Centre for Art Technological Studies and Conservation in Denmark, will discuss how an examination of the complex structure of materials and techniques beneath the visible “skin” of Ring’s paintings reveals fascinating details of the artist’s process and intent.

A fine case in point, says Wadum, is the exquisite, large portrait of Ring’s wife Sigrid, known as At the French Windows: The Artist’s Wife. An X-radiograph of the painting shows that many details of the composition were changed during the execution of the image. One of these is particularly striking, Wadum suggests in an article on Ring’s painting techniques co-authored by Pauline Lehmann Banke and Troels Filtenborg. It is evident that the railing of the terrace and the garden steps were fully completed before the figure of the woman was painted on top of it. Despite being the central feature and object of the whole composition, she was the last element to be added, in keeping with Ring’s technique of finishing off the setting before adding the narrative element.

The most striking discovery revealed by the X-radiograph was that Ring initially painted a white bench under the blossoming apple tree in the garden – an object which is still, even though it is no longer visible, the focus of Sigrid’s gaze. After completion, Ring must have had second thoughts about the garden bench, so he enlarged the myrtle in the foreground in order to fill in the space and hide the bench from our view, thereby creating  a more symbolic image of love and, simultaneously, a subtle memento mori reference.

Dr. Wadum’s presentation on Sunday, February 2, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, is free to Museum members and visitors with paid admission. Reservations are required; visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376.

 











When: Sun., Feb. 2, 2020 at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Where: Bruce Museum
1 Museum Dr., Greenwich, CT
203-869-0376
Price: Free to Museum members and visitors with paid admission
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The Bruce Museum exhibition, On the Edge of the World: Masterworks by Laurits Andersen Ring from SMK—the National Gallery of Denmark (February 1 – May 24, 2020), will be accompanied by a series of special programs and events, beginning with a Conservator’s Talk: Aspects of L.A. Ring’s Working Methods, on Sunday, February 2, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.

Dr. Jørgen Wadum, former Director of Conservation at SMK and current Director of the Centre for Art Technological Studies and Conservation in Denmark, will discuss how an examination of the complex structure of materials and techniques beneath the visible “skin” of Ring’s paintings reveals fascinating details of the artist’s process and intent.

A fine case in point, says Wadum, is the exquisite, large portrait of Ring’s wife Sigrid, known as At the French Windows: The Artist’s Wife. An X-radiograph of the painting shows that many details of the composition were changed during the execution of the image. One of these is particularly striking, Wadum suggests in an article on Ring’s painting techniques co-authored by Pauline Lehmann Banke and Troels Filtenborg. It is evident that the railing of the terrace and the garden steps were fully completed before the figure of the woman was painted on top of it. Despite being the central feature and object of the whole composition, she was the last element to be added, in keeping with Ring’s technique of finishing off the setting before adding the narrative element.

The most striking discovery revealed by the X-radiograph was that Ring initially painted a white bench under the blossoming apple tree in the garden – an object which is still, even though it is no longer visible, the focus of Sigrid’s gaze. After completion, Ring must have had second thoughts about the garden bench, so he enlarged the myrtle in the foreground in order to fill in the space and hide the bench from our view, thereby creating  a more symbolic image of love and, simultaneously, a subtle memento mori reference.

Dr. Wadum’s presentation on Sunday, February 2, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, is free to Museum members and visitors with paid admission. Reservations are required; visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376.

 

Buy tickets/get more info now