Gustave Courbet’s A Burial at Ornans depicts an ordinary funeral in the small village of Ornans, France - the artist's hometown. It is considered pivotal to the Realist art movement in the mid-19th century.
Annick Lemoine, president of the Musée d'Orsay, said: “We had to work on a painting measuring six by three meters. Imagine that. This is the first time since 1881 that the work has been displayed again at this scale. We decided to carry out restoration work at the museum and make it available for public viewing. I think it was the right decision. I would like to further develop this initiative, because I believe in a museum that is open to the public.”
A team of experts from Arcanes, a company specializing in conserving artworks, worked on every detail of the painting for the past 18 months, including the clothing and color patches that had deteriorated over time.
Visitors were able to observe the restoration process from a distance and could ask the experts questions during public sessions held every week.
This is the second time the Musée d'Orsay has allowed the public to watch restoration works on a Courbet's painting.
