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Pesellino and Workshop, Seven Liberal Arts and Seven Virtues, c. 1450, Birmingham Museum of Art, K540 and K541

Pesellino and Workshop, Seven Liberal Arts and Seven Virtues, c. 1450, Birmingham Museum of Art, K540 and K541

The Kress Collection is unique and exceptional in quality, yielding many opportunities for research and new discoveries by students, staff, fellows, and researchers. The following publications, papers, and lectures are devoted to aspects of the study and treatment of Kress artworks.

Studying and Conserving Paintings

 Studying and Conserving Paintings
Archetype Publications↗ in association with the Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University.

This is the first volume of Occasional Papers on the Samuel H. Kress Collection. The book marks the tenth anniversary of the Kress Program. The first part is an overview of historic approaches to the conservation of European paintings and the conservation history of the Kress collection of paintings. The second part gives the results of scientific and humanistic research gained in the process of conserving specific Italian and Dutch Old Masters.

Masterpieces: Based on a Manuscript by Mario Modestini

Masterpieces: Based on a Manuscript by Mario Modestini
Mario Modestini and Lucretia Kargere - circa 1993 - cleaning Madonna and Child by Ambrogio Bergognone, c. 1520s, Lowe Art Museum.

Masterpieces by Dianne Modestini is based on a memoir written by the author’s late husband, Mario Modestini (1907-2006), Conservator and Curator of the Samuel H. Foundation from 1949-1961. He was widely regarded as the finest restorer of Italian paintings of the 20th century and a brilliant connoisseur possessed with, as Federico Zeri wrote, “an infallible eye.” His position at the Kress Foundation exposed him to the international art world where he dealt with museum directors and curators, scholars, dealers, collectors, and other conservators and was involved with the acquisition and restoration of innumerable masterpieces.

Samuel H. Kress Lecture

Samuel H. Kress Lecture
Image credit: Nita Roberts

The Institute of Fine Arts' Samuel H. Kress Lecture, delivered by a prominent scholar in conservation, presents important issues within the fields of paintings conservation and technical art history. This annual event is made possible through the generosity of the Kress Foundation.

Papers, Presentations, and Posters

Papers, Presentations, and Posters
Former MA/MS candidate Kim Frost presenting in the studio her treatment of two panels by Giusto de'Menabuoi, Saints Catherine of Alexandra and John the Baptist, c. 1363, Georgia Museum of Art. Image credit: Nita Roberts.

Browse a selection of papers and presentations relating to research conducted on Kress paintings. Art historical discussions are often illucidated by discoveries unveiled through conservation treatments. These include postprints of talks presented at the annual ANAGPIC (Association of North American Graduate Programs in the Conservation of Cultural Property) student conference.

Reconstruction Projects

Reconstruction Projects
Transfer of the design onto a dark imprimitura during the reconstruction of a canvas by Francesco Bassano, Adoration of the Shepherds, c. 1580, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. Image credit: Emma Kimmel.

As part of their training, students undertake a complete reconstruction of a painting from the Kress Collection on which they have done a thorough technical study, and preferably treated. These reconstructions allow the student to gain intimate knowledge of an artist’s technique, materials, and workshop production. As the project unfolds, many observations and inferences, obtained through technical analysis, are put to the test. In doing so, the students achieve a more sophisticated and nuanced understanding about the original appearance of the artwork, and often stumble upon unforeseen insights into the artist's processes, interests, and influences.

Bibliography

Bibliography
Duke House Library. Image credit: Nita Roberts.

We have compiled a select bibliography of external publications and resources, organized by period and subject matter, for further reference.

Glossary

Glossary
Photomicrograph of a small figure with red hat in Canaletto, The Grand Canal from the Campo San Vio, c. 1730-35, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Image credit: Shan Kuang.

Conservation uses specialized terminology which may be unfamiliar to some. We have created this illustrated glossary defining and discussing some frequently referenced terms and concepts.

Additional Resources

Additional Resources
The Kress Collection Catalogues includes three volumes that are devoted entirely to the Italian paintings in the Collection: Italian Paintings XIII - XV, Italian Paintings XV - XVI and Italian Paintings XVI - XVIII.