CODART, Dutch and Flemish art in museums worldwide

Spectacular Restoration of a Maerten Van Heemskerck Lamentation of Christ in Budapest

The lamentation of Christ by Maarten van Heemskerck in the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest (inv. nr. 4936) has been known so far in a heavily overpainted state. After an IR investigation the painting was restored in 2007.

Maerten van Heemskerck, The lamentation of Christ. Budapest, Museum of Fine Arts. Before restoration     Maerten van Heemskerck, The lamentation of Christ. Budapest, Museum of Fine Arts. After restoration

The restoration revealed five hitherto invisible figures in the background. Under the retouched surface fortunately all of them have remained in an excellent condition. The restoration allowed us to place the painting securely within Heemskerck’s oeuvre. A detailed record of the restoration will be published in the Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts 105 (2007) by András Fáy and Miklós Gálos.