Aero-Pedalo No. 9: a structural analysis of Panamarenko's parachutist
Panamarenko's Aero-Pedalo No. 9 was at risk of collapsing and needed urgent restoration. But the inner structure of the work was a real mystery to the restorers. The Imagery Unit of the Institute was therefore commissioned to produce X-rays of the parachutist.
Proximus
An understanding of the internal structure through X-rays
In the lobby of the Brussels headquarters of Proximus stands an impressive sculpture by Panamarenko. It consists of a life-size figure suspended from a parachute and covered entirely in brownish paint. The restorers had expected to find a metal structure underneath this layer of paint.
However, X-ray results revealed that it was a display dummy dressed in parachute gear. Safety shoes had replaced its feet complete with reinforced soles and spikes. The sculpture is supported by a mere metal rod attached to the left leg, which explains its sagging. Its legs are hidden under two pairs of trousers. The mesh of a woollen garment can even be seen in the upper part of the picture.
The X-ray examination revealed the object's internal structure, which allowed the restorers to provide it with proper treatment.
Safety above all
As the work is exhibited in a bustling place, the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage has implemented strict security measures. The Vinçotte inspection and certification company set up a security perimeter, and the technicians worked after office hours to avoid any risks to employees.
The Crucifixion: the stolen painting from Saint Waltrude Collegiate Church in Mons
Theft, disappearance, arrest, repatriation, return... Some works of art have quite eventful histories. Such is the case of this Crucifixion, a painting by an Antwerp Mannerist that was stolen from the Saint Waltrude Collegiate Church in Mons in 1980. In 2021, at the city's request, the work was subjected to a technical and art historical examination by our Imagery Unit and Dendrochronology Lab. It is currently being restored by Paul Duquesnoy at the Mons Artothèque.
The mystery of Hubert van Eyck and the Ghent Altarpiece solved ‒ Interdisciplinary study of the research data of the second restoration phase
In collaboration with the University of Antwerp, our interdisciplinary team conducted an in-depth study of the evidence gathered during the restoration of the lower register of the opened Ghent Altarpiece (2016-2019). They succeeded in uncovering one of the greatest mysteries in art history: the precise contribution of Jan Van Eyck and his illustrious older brother Hubert Van Eyck to the creation of the Ghent Altarpiece.
The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest gets a new lease of life
After a complex restoration, The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest (1628) by Willem van Haecht (1593-1637) is again shining in the Rubens House. Come and see one of the highlights of the collection in the famous Antwerp museum!
ArtGarden: Research Enclosed Gardens and preventive conservation of Mixed-Media objects
How do you preserve items made of various materials, such as the Enclosed Gardens (Besloten Hofjes) in Mechelen? Within the ArtGarden project, an interdisciplinary research team determines the ideal preservation conditions for these kinds of historical mixed-media items. We make the results accessible to the broader heritage sector through an online tool.
PHySICAL: sparking solutions for the cleaning of Asian lacquers
In the PHySICAL project (Profound study of Hydrous and Solvent Interactions in Cleaning Asian Lacquer), RMAH-KMKG, UGent and the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage searched for the most effective way to clean lacquered surfaces. The result? A chemically and physically tested cleaning protocol to restore the magnificent collection of Asian lacquer items in the Art & History Museum to their full glory.
The altarpiece of Saint George: a spectacular restoration
After three years of research and restoration, Jan II Borman's Saint George Altarpiece (1493) hangs resplendent with beauty once again in the Museum of Art & History. The interdisciplinary study, carried out in collaboration with the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, has made unexpected discoveries and shed light on age-old mysteries. After almost two centuries, the beautifully carved statuettes have been returned to their original place in the monumental masterpiece, which has been restored. This project was made possible with the support of the King Baudouin Foundation (René and Karin Jonckheere Fund).
Self-portrait of Rubens under the microscope
A self-portrait of Rubens can be admired in the Rubens House, where the Antwerp master's studio was once located. In 2017, the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage was commissioned to study and conserve-restore the work. A real honour and a tremendous pleasure.
VERONA (Van Eyck Research in OpeN Access)
How close can you get to the creative genius of the Flemish master? The pioneering VERONA project has opened a whole new chapter in the study of the paintings of Jan van Eyck (c. 1390-1441). A permanent team of researchers and photographers from the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) went on site to study and document all the paintings of Jan van Eyck housed in renowned museums in Belgium and abroad, in high resolution and according to a standardised protocol. This comprehensive visual material is now available online on the Closer to Van Eyck website.
Archive research uncovers three pioneers of Flemish painting
The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage houses an unpublished text by the historian Paul Rolland, which was based on valuable archive documents about the pioneers of Flemish painting: Robert Campin, Rogier Van der Weyden and Jacques Daret. Many of these archives were destroyed during the bombing of Tournai during World War II.
Closer to Van Eyck in 100 billion pixels. The Mystic Lamb has never been so close
Thanks to the Closer to Van Eyck website, since 2012 millions of people have been zooming in on the staggeringly beautiful details of one of the world's most acclaimed works of art: the Ghent Altarpiece. In 2020, more than a quarter of a million interested people worldwide already took a look, and in the COVID period the number of visitors even increased by 800%. This shows the enormous potential of modern digital technology to make works of art from all eras widely accessible. The website was recently renewed and contains high resolution images of the restored paintings, new videos and educational material.
Dull Gret discloses her true age
The painting Dull Gret by Pieter Bruegel the Elder is the centrepiece of the Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp. The restoration of this masterpiece was entrusted to the specialists of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage. Together with Bruegel expert Christina Currie, they made several spectacular discoveries.
SHARE-ORG: how to get forgotten museum pieces out of the depot again?
RE-ORG helps museums to manage their depot collections correctly. The SHARE-ORG competition looks for creative ways to display the pieces to the public.
CRUMBEL: What can cremated bones reveal about the life of our ancestors?
Within the CRUMBEL project (Cremations, Urns and Mobility - Ancient Population Dynamics in Belgium), researchers from UGent, ULB, VUB and the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) have been studying the cremated bones found on Belgian burial sites dating from the Neolithic to the early Middle Ages. Their goal is to better understand our ancestors' way of life. To that end, they are mapping the migrations and movements of the populations that populated our regions at that time.
Jehay Castle: comparative material analyses provide accurate dating
Jehay Castle has a rich history. This exceptional heritage is currently being restored on behalf of the province of Liège. The KIK is making its contribution through an interdisciplinary study that will enable the various materials and parts of the castle to be accurately dated.
A focus on the Romanesque stained glass windows of the abbey of Stavelot
In the early 1990s, AWaP archaeologists made an exceptional discovery in the soil of Stavelot Abbey: a remarkable collection of Romanesque stained glass windows dating from the 12th century. Shortly afterwards, the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage experts were commissioned to treat these very damaged glass fragments. They developed a very original process for this purpose.
Antique glass at Musée L: restoration and typo-chronological research
At the request of L Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve, KIK is restoring a unique collection of antique glass. Through a typo-chronological study and chemical analyses, the experts are also looking for the origin of some rare pieces. This task, entrusted to KIK, was recently extended to include the editing of a collection catalogue.
The master as architect: restoration of Rubens' porch and garden pavilion
Since 2019, Rubens' portico and garden pavilion have been restored to their former glory. The museum won the Europa Nostra Award for this conservation.
Sacrament Tower in Aalst: restoration reveals unique grisaill painting
On the sacrament house of the Sint-Martinus church in Aalst, the KIK discovered painted images in semi-grisaille technique. A unique case in the art world
Orna Sacra: new tools for the iconological study of liturgical heritage
Liturgical heritage, generally considered as belonging to the decorative arts, is often neglected. Researchers from UCLouvain, KU Leuven and the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage have developed new tools and methodologies to deepen our understanding of the religious, social and artistic values of these specific items.
David Bowie's Tintoretto: how scientific imaging proves authorship
Is a work authentic or the product of a workshop? Thanks to infrared and X-ray radiation, researchers at the KIK proved that St. Catherine really was the work of the Venetian painter Tintoretto.
