There are days in the conservation studio that follow a quiet, meditative rhythm of swabs, solvent gels, and stereo-microscopes. And then there are days when you find yourself explaining 16th-century pigment degradation to the Queen of Belgium.
On May 4th, our conservation studio at Musea Brugge had the honor of welcoming a very special guest: Her Majesty Queen Mathilde.
A Sneak Peek Behind the Scenes of BRUSK
The Queen’s visit marked a major milestone for Bruges: an exclusive preview of BRUSK, the city’s brand-new, state-of-the-art arts hall, just days before its official grand opening to the public.
Her tour celebrated the bridge that Musea Brugge is building between historic heritage and contemporary art, from the digital immersive world of Refik Anadol’s Latent City to the rich medieval history in Breedbeeld: Verweven werelden van Brugge 900–1550. Following her tour of the exhibition galleries, the Queen crossed over to BRON, the museum’s research centre, to take a closer look at the research, print collection, and conservation work happening behind closed doors.
At the Easel with Frans Pourbus the Elder
And then it was our turn. Inside the conservation studio, my colleague Sofia Hennen and I had the privilege of presenting our ongoing treatment of Het Dronkenschap van Noach (The Drunkenness of Noah) by Frans Pourbus the Elder (1545–1581).
Standing together around the panel, we walked Her Majesty through the journey of the painting’s conservation. How centuries of accumulated varnish and heavy, historic overpaints had veiled Pourbus’s original brushwork and color harmony and the delicate, step-by-step process of testing tailored solvent and gel systems to safely lift discolored varnish layers without endangering the sensitive original paint underneath. Queen Mathilde showed a genuine interest in the meticulous craft, the science behind our decisions, and the dedication required to safeguard such fragile cultural heritage.
Sharing our passion for painting conservation with such an appreciative audience was a wonderful reminder of the public and cultural value of what we do. Behind every major exhibition and perfected gallery wall lies an invisible web of research, dedication, and hands-on care, and it was an absolute highlight of my time in Bruges to share that world with Her Majesty!