Egon Schiele, Town Among Greenery (The Old City III), 1917, oil on canvas.
Conversations on Conservation: Making the Invisible Visible
Discussing the restoration of a modern work of art by Egon Schiele at the Neue Galerie
Overview
As a recipient of the 2023 TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund grant, Neue Galerie New York is restoring one of its most beloved pictures, gifted to the museum by the Manley family in 2006: Egon Schiele’s (1890–1918) "Town Among Greenery (The Old City III)" from 1917. Broadly known for his raw and intense figural work, landscapes comprise approximately one-third of Schiele’s painted oeuvre. "Town Among Greenery" is distinct among his landscapes due to its prominent scale and the inclusion of figures. The painting is an imaginative view of the medieval town of Krumau in Bohemia, the birthplace of Schiele’s mother and a rich source of inspiration for his landscape pictures.
In this talk, the panelists will discuss this painting in the context of Schiele’s work, its condition, and the examination techniques that will be employed to learn about the artist’s working method.
The painting is in a largely untouched state of preservation. Close study of the canvas and its painted surfaces, augmented by scientific analysis and technical imaging, may yield insights into Schiele’s use of pigments, his painted surfaces, and his approach to painting. The primary objectives of the planned treatment are to stabilize areas of lifting paint and to reduce several distortions in the canvas.
TEFAF Talks are interactive panel discussions exploring today’s most fascinating topics in the worlds of art, antiques, and design. Paired with leading content partners, these talks showcase the knowledge of leading experts in the broader TEFAF community. This talk is presented in partnership with ICOM-CC and moderated by Nora W. Kennedy, Sherman Fairchild Conservator in Charge, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Panelists
