Recently repaired and re-matted work from the "Archives"
pastel and charcoal reproduction of "Pieta" by Rogier van der Weyden
I have just today re-assembled my oversize pastel and charcoal "Pieta" detail by Rogier van der Weyden of the 15th Century. I had done this drawing as one of a suite of three studies of Flemish Masters' depictions of the Madonna. This is the only one still in my possession.
It had been damaged in the moving truck as we drove through record rains in Washington State and record blizzards through Omaha, Neb. in December 2008, as my Dad and I moved us back to Iowa. And then I wondered what I had been thinking...
A lot of work was badly damaged, and I dried out the work intact, but didn't dare open this one and remove it from the frame until this summer, 6+ years later. Surprisingly, only the mat had been ruined; the work was in great condition.
I have a wonderful photographer and printer, Tony Vandercar of Girard Graphics in East Moline, IL. who re-documented the unframed work. Now it's back in the frame with its fresh new mat and ready for exhibition and/or sale.
I seem to have plenty of this type of work to do lately. It feels good to check this big unwieldy one off the list...
Leave a Comment