Perhaps one of the most outstanding groups of works held in the Louvre’s extensive holdings is its collection of pastels. Today, at any given time, the Louvre presents thirty to forty pastel drawings in its galleries. The works displayed are rotated on a regular basis so that as many drawings as possible can be shown. As the medium of pastel is extremely fragile, over the years several problems presenting danger to the drawings’ condition have been identified. The wooden frames, many of which are original to the drawings, and glass coverings have become weak or damaged. They no longer offer a tight seal, which may cause the paper to shift, the pastel powders to loosen and dust to enter the casing. These conditions are the primary causes of deterioration of the drawings.
In order to ensure that the drawings are safely exhibited and stored in the Museum, the Département de Dessins and the Louvre’s restoration workshops have collaborated on a new method of encasing and framing the works. This initiative was led by Carel Van Tuyll, director of the Département, and Christophe Leribault, curator in charge of the pastel collection. The resulting system includes a custom-made case which creates a tightly closed protective barrier around the drawing and a more secure sealing mechanism to prevent the sheet from moving. A sturdier, non-reflective glass will be placed on top and a new backing board and stainless steel rings for hanging will be installed on the case allowing easy access to and transfer of the works. A successful prototype has already been created in the framing workshop.
The Département has identified one hundred and forty pastels from the collection as priority to receive the new cases. Each of the original frames will be cleaned and consolidated. Any damage, such as chips, will be repaired and the original color and gilding will also be restored. Then, the drawing and frame will be fitted with a new glass covering and custom-made case, which will be made in the Louvre’s own workshops, according to the existing prototype.
The Département has asked American Friends of the Louvre to contribute toward this project as there are no operating funds available to support it at the museum. As you may know, the Louvre receives only 50% of its operating budget from the French government and is required to obtain the remainder through its own funding initiatives. The total cost of carrying out this initiative on all one hundred forty drawings is $420,000.
We are delighted to announce that AFL has already raised a significant portion of this goal with gifts totalling $150,000. We hope that you might consider contributing to this campaign and ensuring the legacy of these remarkable master works.
Gifts of all sizes are welcome. Those making gifts of $1,000 or more will be recognized on AFL’s website and in its newsletter. Individual pastels may be adopted through gifts of $3,000. For their generosity, those adopting a pastel will be recognized on the Département’s collections database and on the pastel's label.
It would be wonderful to have your participation in the realization of this project. American Friends of the Louvre thanks you in advance for your consideration of this most important campaign.