WUDPAC Class of 2015 alumna Emily Brown talks to Sarasota's Herald-Tribune about conservation at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. From the August 11, 2022 article by Marty Fugate:
At the dawn of the 20th century, John Ringling bought a cast-bronze replica of Michelangelo’s original statue of David from the Chiurrazi Foundry in Italy. He later installed it in the courtyard of what would become The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Despite hurricanes and the shifting winds of Florida politics, David has remained there ever since. He’s looking pretty youthful for 100-plus years. That’s no accident. The iconic sculpture has been lovingly cared for – but only in the last few decades.
“The museum didn’t initially have a conservation program,” said Emily Brown, The Ringling’s conservator of sculpture and decorative arts. “We only started our conservation maintenance treatments in the 1980s.”
Those treatments have continued to this day. Brown and her conservation team now give David special care. But he’s not alone. Their care extends to all of The Ringling’s sculpture and decorative art. The museum’s exterior pieces need tender loving care.
What happens in a conservation treatment?
According to Brown, regular conservation treatments are vital for The Ringling’s outdoor artwork. They’re delightful to look at under the Florida sun – and constantly exposed to a barrage of corrosive elements. Thanks to the museum’s bayfront site, that includes sun, salt, rain and biological agents. Without constant attention, these pieces wouldn’t stay delightful for very long.
What exactly happens in a conservation treatment?
For a metal sculpture like David, it’s a lot like washing and waxing a car. First the art object is thoroughly cleaned; then it’s sealed with a protective layer. While museum conservation is far more complicated, the logic behind it is the same. And we all know what happens to your shiny new car if you stop going to the car wash.
Before long, it’s not so shiny and new anymore.
What’s true for a Lamborghini is also true for a 16.5-foot bronze sculpture.
In normal times, David’s makeovers happen like clockwork. But life in the time of COVID is hardly normal. The pandemic stopped David’s conservation clock for nearly two years. By the summer of 2022, David was looking a tad less youthful.
According to Brown, David’s last major conservation treatment was in July of 2018. Depending on the whims of weather, he should get regular maintenance treatments roughly every three years to keep him in good shape.
To read the full article, visit the Herald-Tribune website.
