Conservator Examines JMU Painting, Art Career

From: Public Affairs

November 13, 2007

HARRISONBURG — Art conservator Mark E. Wittl will talk about his work in restoring a 17th century Italian painting that is part of the Madison Art Collection at James Madison University.

DATE: Friday, Nov. 16, 2007
TIME: 5-7 p.m.
LOCATION: Ballroom A, Festival Conference and Student Center, JMU

Wittl of Virginia Art Conservation and Restoration will describe his restoration of "The Deposition or The Lamentation," a gift from the late John Sawhill, a professor of Latin, Greek and German who taught at the university from 1927 to 1957. Created by an unknown artist, the work was thought to be painted on copper, according to Dr. Kathryn Stevens, director of the Madison Art Collection. Wittl's investigation, which began in April, determined that the work is on tin.

The piece depicts cherubs carrying off the cross while a larger angel mourns over the body of Christ. The Virgin Mary, St. John and Mary Magdalene are among the figures in the painting, which differs from typical deposition scenes, Stevens said. The painting may instead depict St. John, the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene mourning over the body of Christ after the deposition and before the entombment.

JMU's College of Visual and Performing Arts "adopted" the painting to fund its cleaning and restoration as part of a Madison Art Collection program to support conservation of important pieces.

In addition to talking about the JMU artwork, Wittl will discuss art conservation as a career. Information about the Madison Art Collection's art adoption program will also be available. Light refreshments will be served.

The public can visit the Madison Art Resource Site in Room 2102 of the Festival Conference and Student Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and by appointment by calling 540-568-6934.

JMU Public Affairs contact: Janet Smith, 540-568-8008 or smithjl@jmu.edu.

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