Behind the scenes in Conservation

About

In this episode, Conservator Jill Dunkerton tells us how she refused to be beaten by the challenge presented by one of our earliest Dutch paintings.

Geertgen tot Sint Jans’s The Nativity at Night is one of our most popular nativities. Despite fire damage and thick layers of varnish, the exquisite painting was still a striking combination of darkness and light.

Jill explains how removing the varnish revealed tot Sint Jans's incredible skill in creating different effects of light: light reflected on people’s faces, on clothing and glowing from otherworldly, fluttering angels. Using an almost hairless paintbrush, Jill tell us how she reinstated some of the tiny touches of light radiating from the Christ Child. We hear the story behind the miniature bonfire illuminating the shepherds in the background and how Joseph emerged from the shadows.

The conservation of Geertgen tot Sint Jans's 'The Nativity at Night' (possibly about 1490) and this film were supported by The Leche Trust.