The process of conserving and restoring the 77-year-old painting was recorded in a book which was released by the AHM.
1939's 'The Annunciation', painting by William Ewart Gladstone Solomon (1880 – 1965) has been restored by the The Archdiocesan Heritage Museum (AHM).
While the painting is on display at the museum, the process of conserving and restoring the painting was recorded in a book.
The book was released on Wednesday evening at the at the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Colaba by Oswald Cardinal Gracias and Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Director of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghralaya (CSMVS) along with Fr Warner D'souza, Director of AHM.
The book, also titled 'The Annunciation' was launched by the Archdiocesan Heritage Museum, Mumbai. It is a visual report of the conservation treatment implemented on 'The Annunciation', painting. The restoration of the painting was sponsored under The Art Conservation Resurgence Project (ACRP), an initiative of CSMVS's Conservation Centre and is supported by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.
Talking about the painting and how it was lost and found, Fr D'Souza said, "I had a key interest in collecting and conserving art. Interestingly, the painting was found in a damaged state behind a cupboard in the office of St Joseph Church, Colaba, which was later donated to the AHM."
He also added, "We did not have the money to restore it then, hence, we had it for two years. One day, Anupam Sah, agreed to do the restoration and conservation of the painting without charging us. They kept the painting for over a year, the process took them six months and now we have it here, restored and conserved."
Speaking of the difficulties of restoring the painting, Anupam Sah, Head of Art Conservation, Research and Training, CSMVS MACC,said, "The painting was torn in a couple of places and also had a lot of dust accumulated on it. The painting had a thick layer of varnish which was visible because the colour had changed completely."
Speaking of the conservation requirements in India, Sah further added, "India needs to conserve art before much of its heritage is lost forever."
W.E. Gladstone held the office of Director of the JJ School of Arts, Mumbai from 1929-1937. During this period he also served as a Curator at the CSMVS and was on the Board of Trustees. As a curator of CSMVS from January 24, 1921 to March 25, 1937, he was in-charge of the Art section. Amid his tenure, the CSMVS received its celebrated bequest of Sir Ratan Tata in 1922 and Sir Dorab Tata in 1933. He was also the curator of Prince of Wales Museum and most of the collections in the museum are today available in the museum.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Anupam Sah")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}