La Ghirlandata, the Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece described by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, as “my very best picture”, has been restored and will be unveiled by William Russell, Lord Mayor of the City of London, at Guildhall Art Gallery on Thursday (30 January).

In October 2018, Bank of America awarded an Art Conservation Grant to the City of London Corporation to facilitate the extensive, year-long restoration of the 1873 portrait.

The grant enabled conservators to undertake the restoration, which included scientific paint analysis and advanced methods of visual imaging to examine, test, and treat the painting and frame.

The painting was cleaned to remove discoloured varnish and overpaint to reveal a brighter, fresher scene with a cooler tonality. The frame, which was also designed by Rossetti, was repaired and delicately cleaned to remove non-original coatings, grime, and fingerprints.

The deteriorated lining canvas, once added to reinforce the painting, was removed and replaced, ensuring that the 147-year-old painting will be stable as it approaches its second century.

The Art Conservation Project at Bank of America seeks to conserve historically or culturally significant works of art. To date, it has provided grants to museums in 33 countries, across six continents for more than 170 conservation projects, comprising thousands of individual pieces. The Bank supports more than 2,000 not-for-profit cultural institutions each year.

Graham Packham, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committee, said:

“La Ghirlandata is one of Guildhall Art Gallery’s most admired art works and it is gratifying to know that its true colours, as well as the original frame’s beauty, will now be seen and enjoyed as they were nearly 150 years ago.

“My colleagues and I are hugely grateful to Bank of America for supporting this restoration project so generously and like many of the art gallery’s regular visitors, we are looking forward to seeing the painting back on display.”

Elizabeth Scott, the City of London Corporation’s Principal Curator of Guildhall Art Gallery, said:

“Now that the delicate and complex restoration work has been completed, we have returned ‘La Ghirlandata’ to its full aesthetic power and are giving it pride of place in one of our main exhibition spaces.

“It will be a joy to see visitors coming face-to-face again with the painting and through our international loans programme, we are hoping to work with art galleries at home and abroad to enable it to be appreciated by as many people as possible.”

Rena De Sisto, Global Executive for Arts & Culture and Women’s Programs at Bank of America, said:

“We were delighted to partner with Guildhall Art Gallery to conserve and safeguard this important Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece.

“We believe in the power of the arts to help economies thrive, to educate and enrich societies, and to create greater cultural understanding. Our art program is part of our continued commitment to grow responsibly while bringing value to economies, society and the communities we serve.”

The painting is regarded as one of the most popular works in the City Corporation’s extensive art collection, from which pieces are selected for free public view in the gallery’s permanent exhibition.

The City of London Corporation, which owns and manages Guildhall Art Gallery, is the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £100m every year.

The City Corporation is also developing Culture Mile between Farringdon and Moorgate – a multi-million-pound investment which will create a new cultural and creative destination for London. This includes £197m funding to support the Museum of London’s move to West Smithfield and £4.9m to support the detailed business case for the proposed Centre for Music.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Journalists and photographers who wish to attend the unveiling of La Ghirlandata at Guildhall Art Gallery, EC2, from 1pm to 1.30pm on Thursday 30 January 2020 are asked to contact Andrew Buckingham (see below).

Elizabeth Scott, the City of London Corporation’s Principal Curator of Guildhall Art Gallery, and Nancy Wade, the City of London Corporation’s Paintings Conservator, are available for interview.

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Tel: 020 7332 1452 / Mobile: 07795 333060 /

Email andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Cecilia Cran, Media Relations, Bank of America

Tel: 020 7996 5627 / Email cecilia.cran@bofa.com

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

About Bank of America:

At Bank of America, we are guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We are delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with not-for-profits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organisations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofAML).

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