Special event to mark return of Vae Victis
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Broken Hill's most valuable painting, Vae Victis, has been returned to the city after almost a year of painstaking restoration and study.
The massive oil painting was created by English classicist painter Arthur Hacker in 1890, and depicts the sack of Morocco by the Almohad Caliphate.
In June 2017 the $800,000 painting was carefully transported to Melbourne to undergo restoration at the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation at the University of Melbourne.
Senior Paintings Conservator Cushla Hill led a team that that worked on the painting for over 400 hours, repairing around 50 tears, re-moulding frame elements, and retouching old restorations and cracks in the paint.
Council's Gallery and Museum Manager, Tara Callaghan, said the painting's stint in Melbourne had also provided the first opportunity for experts to closely study the famous work.
"We originally planned to have the painting returned to Broken Hill in around three months, but the conservators expressed a wish to spend extra time investigating the artwork, and we were happy to approve this request," she said.
"It marks the first time that any in-depth documentation or analysis has been carried out on this important painting, and the team were able to study the work with specialist personnel, equipment and facilities unique to Australia.
"They uncovered a lot of interesting information about the paints used and Hacker’s techniques, and we look forward to discussing these findings when the restored painting is unveiled at the gallery later this month."
A special event will be held at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery at 6pm on June 29 to mark the return of Vae Victis, and Ms Hill will be in attendance to give a presentation on the research and work that has taken place around the painting.
Entry will be via a $10 per person donation toward the BHRAG Art Restoration fund, and bookings for the event are required by June 20 on 80803444 or by emailing [email protected].
The event will feature Moroccan catering by Lee Cecchin of Pandora's Palate, with full bar facilities and drinks available by gold coin donation.
The $23,281 needed to restore of the painting was fundraised through the BHRAG, and Ms Callaghan thanked everyone who had contributed and made the restoration possible.