Rubens under restoration
The epitaph triptych of Jan Moretus and Martina Plantin, painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1611-1612, will undergo thorough restoration in the coming years. This exceptional triptych, located in the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp and included in the Flemish Masterpieces List, is considered one of Rubens' most significant works in situ.
Rubens painted the triptych for the epitaph of Jan Moretus, commissioned by his wife Martina Plantin. The epitaph was erected in the choir of the cathedral. The side panels of the triptych depict John the Baptist and Saint Martina, the patron saints of the Moretus-Plantin couple. On the outside of the side panels, angels are about to open the door wings behind them. This alludes to the Resurrection on the central panel, where the risen Christ triumphantly steps out of his rock tomb and causes the guarding soldiers to recoil in astonishment.
MASTERPIECE
Since 2005, the triptych has been included on the Flemish Government's Masterpieces List because of its rare and indispensable character for the Flemish Community. The Masterpieces Council will advise the restorers on their work. The restoration of the Rubens triptych is expected to take at least two years.
RESTORATION
The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) has been monitoring the paintings for some time and, during the latest inspections, demonstrated that the poor adhesion of the paint layer and the cracks in the panels necessitated more extensive intervention. Through a combination of visual examination, scientific imaging and historical source research, the damage to the painting will be further assessed in order to tailor the treatment as closely as possible to the needs of the artwork. At the same time, Rubens' technique will be studied. A team of international experts from various disciplines will monitor each phase of the restoration so that the knowledge generated can be disseminated to researchers worldwide. In the cathedral, a photographic print of the closed triptych will fill the empty space, and visitors will be able to continue to admire all the panels of the Resurrection via the QR code on the stepping stone.
