A Monumental Conservation

Since 1817, visitors to the Louvre have admired the Marie de’ Medici Cycle, an allegorical series celebrating the life and political legacy of the French Queen. Following the assassination of her husband, King Henri IV, in 1610, Marie served as Regent for her young son, Louis XIII. Years of political conflict culminated in her exile before the two reconciled in 1621. After her return to Paris, Marie de’ Medici commissioned Peter Paul Rubens—one of the most influential and successful Flemish artists of the Baroque era—to create the extraordinary cycle of 24 paintings, which originally adorned the walls of her residence at the Palais du Luxembourg.

More than four centuries after their creation, the paintings now require urgent conservation due to the cumulative effects of time, light, environmental pollutants, and changing climate conditions.

Over the next four years, treatment will be done in situ due to the works’ sizes and include structural stabilization, cleaning, removal of discolored varnish and later overpaint, and targeted inpainting where paint loss has occurred. Beyond restoring the cycle’s visual brilliance, this landmark project offers a rare opportunity to also deepen our understanding of Rubens’ artistic practice and the Queen’s carefully crafted political image.

AFL is deeply grateful to John Schwartz and the David Schwartz Foundation for their generous support of this project. “Given my love of European history and our shared artistic patrimony, it was an honor to become one of the first sponsors of this project at the Louvre, which just so happens to be my neighbor,” John shared. “I have a deep reverence for the Louvre and look forward to seeing the series back on view in just a few short years.”

In addition to the support of the David Schwartz Foundation, AFL is proud to partner with the project’s lead funder, the Société des Amis du Louvre, in advancing this historic conservation initiative.