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| Joanna Brown hands the cheque to Dr Jenny Gaschke Curator of Fine Art (Photo against the background of The Garden Court courtesy of BMAG) |
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery’s appeal to raise £18,000 for the conservation of a wonderful painting, The Garden Court
by Edward Burne-Jones, has been 100% successful, thanks to the
Friends. The museum had raised £8,000 from generous individual donors
but needed to find another £10,000 to complete the conservation of the
badly damaged artwork. The Friends of Bristol Art Gallery Executive
Committee agreed to run an appeal to the membership, which was sent out
in late July 2014, and within two months 142 individual Friends have
donated £10,000 between them.
Dr Jenny Gaschke, Curator of Fine Art, says “We are absolutely bowled over by the generosity and support shown from individual Friends. This superb painting has been absent from public view for over twenty years, but now with the help of our Friends, we can once again return it to centre stage in the 19th century art gallery.”
An external conservator, Rachel Howells, started at the Museum on 18 November. She will work on the painting for 2 days a week for the next 6 months, depending on the nature of any problems thrown up as the conservation progresses.
Dr Jenny Gaschke, Curator of Fine Art, says “We are absolutely bowled over by the generosity and support shown from individual Friends. This superb painting has been absent from public view for over twenty years, but now with the help of our Friends, we can once again return it to centre stage in the 19th century art gallery.”
An external conservator, Rachel Howells, started at the Museum on 18 November. She will work on the painting for 2 days a week for the next 6 months, depending on the nature of any problems thrown up as the conservation progresses.
It is hoped the painting will be back on display by mid-summer next year in the 19th century gallery, for all to enjoy and wonder at.
