The Royal Alcázar of Seville has closed the crypt of the Patio de Banderas to carry out conservation work to protect Velázquez's legacy. Meanwhile, the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville has added a Baroque work to its collection, reinforcing the relevance of 17th-century Sevillian painting. Both actions aim to preserve the city's historical and artistic heritage.
Conservation techniques for the pictorial legacy 🎨
Work in the crypt of the Patio de Banderas includes humidity analysis and temperature control to prevent damage to the frescoes. Low-power lasers are used to clean layers of dirt without scratching the surface. Additionally, water-based consolidants are applied to fix original pigments. The process is slow, but necessary to prevent the passage of time and mass tourism from erasing details of the works. The new Baroque piece at the Museum of Fine Arts, attributed to a disciple of Zurbarán, has undergone a 3D scan to document its current state.
The crypt closes and the Baroque moves to the museum 🖼️
While the Alcázar crypt takes a break for a beauty treatment, the Museum of Fine Arts has scored a point with its new Baroque acquisition. It seems Sevillian heritage is on the move: some pieces are hidden so they don't get damaged, and others appear as if by magic. At least, if you can't see the crypt, you can always go say hello to the new painting, which doesn't require an appointment and stoically endures selfies.