tretyakovgallery.ru
The vandal’s attack on the famous work by Ivan Repin Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581 inflicted some implicit flaws of the masterpiece. As per the State Tretyakov Gallery, the blows on the surface of the canvas entailed falling off layers of paints, TASS reports.
Experts explained that this could be called a chronical disease for this piece of art. Restorers have known that there is no proper cohesion between the layer of paints and the canvas, so there was always a threat of the paints’ falling off.
Specialists have been watching the painting for many years, but even the most outstanding restorers quit attempts of fundamental restoration works and strengthening a layer of paints in some places due to the extreme complexity of the task. Besides, there are neither technologies nor tools for this.
In order to avoid falling off the paints, it was forbidden to move the picture. It was stored under the glass for protection from humidity and temperature fluctuations. Now museum experts must solve an uneasy task and restore flaws inflicted by the vandal as well as cure the painting of its old disease saving the Repin’s masterpiece for generations to come. Unfortunately, it is not clear when this painting will be ready.
Note that the attack happened in May. A man hit the painting several times breaking the glass with a metal museum barrier severely damaging the painting in three spots. Museum workers took the pieces of glass out of the painting. At present, the painting is taken out of the collection and sent for restoration for an indefinite period.
Russkiy Mir
