An exhibition of some 25 bronzes by Rodin is opening tomorrow, Sept. 7, 2018 at the Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. I will be writing up a review for a regional arts magazine called Art Chowder. Two of the pieces are owned by the Jundt and they have a typical, and very pleasing, aged bronze patina. The majority in the show come from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collection and they all have a black patina. Some conservators came to “polish” (I was told) the 22 pieces from the Cantor Collection. The museum’s preparator had asked the conservators about this matter and they really didn’t have an answer about the nature of or reason for this black patina. It really is black and very shiny, and to my eye competes with the sculptures’ form. Is anyone on MITRA familiar with this? I’d like to address it in the article (will cite source) because i’m sure visitors will wonder.
Thanks very much!
We have reached out to a couple of folks in the conservation community. In the meantime, however, I include a couple of interesting and potentially useful links below: https://exarc.net/issue-2017-2/ea/colour-palette-antique-bronzes-experimental-archaeology-project
I have corresponded with a conservator who has experience working on Rodin scupltures and they asked the following:
Do you know which figures in particular? Burghers of Calais? Is there a list of the sculptures in question?
They may have some info if you can provide this information.
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