The Restoration of Ave Maria Narrated Version

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Follow along as Julian Baumgartner of Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration in Chicago works to conserve and restore this icon of Ave Maria. This piece was likely created in a workshop that specialized in religious icons for churches and was the product of several craftspeople and artists with no one claiming ownership or signing the work. These icons appeared commonly throughout Europe and were often lost during war or the closure or relocation of a church.

This piece came in with very little provenance other than that the original owner was an antiques dealer who traveled extensively throughout Europe in the 50's and 60's collecting pieces for sale back in the USA. This was one that the dealer held on to.

Covered in years of grime and linseed oil with extensive losses and instability this icon was at high risk for further losses if not complete destruction. The process of conserving and restoring the piece was delicate and tedious but the end result reveals how it might have looked to parishioners when it was first revealed.

Official Baumgartner Merchandise

[lennytheburger]

why does he sound like hes doing some sci fi stuff like "Im going to directly inject the resin straight into the void fractures in the superstructure so that i can stabilize the core"

[Blubableful]

When he first opened the doors I was like "oh this looks really badly damaged" then he turned the whole thing around and revealed the true nightmare.

[abdelelfazari]

I swear you are:
A Chemist
A Surgeon
And an Artist

[smiley-]

"When this piece arrived, I was impressed with the extent of the damage"

My therapist talking about me, probably

[demonpotato]

When he started to clean that painting, I was shocked. I did NOT expect it be that dirty!

[HansonJ]

If I had to restore this I’d probably cry for a few hours first.

[freesimorgh]

So to be an art restorer you need to be a chemist, an engineer, a carpenter, a surgeon, and an artist?

[Sonicbolt]

"I'm using Regalrez varnish with a tinuvin 292 stabilizer"

Me, an uneducated simpleton: "Ah of course. Naturally the best choice"

[nathanlamberth]

BR: “you don’t have to be a skilled artist to do restorations”

BR in next video: “here I’m just going to replace this whole missing section in a special style that balances restoring the work and remaining identifiable as a restoration”

[robrick]

This guy's like a doctor for artwork.
This patient came in critical but luckily was saved and is now in stable condition.

[littlewing]

Once in a while, I will re-watch an old video of Julian Baumgartner's work, for the same reason that I will re-watch "Casablanca" - for the deep pleasure that I get from watching a masterpiece unfold before my eyes.

[valariehood]

this channel is making me have so much more appreciation for the timelessness of art. imagine being this artist and seeing the amount of love and detail that went into the preservation of it.

[ScottyFang]

Lol the guy's like "I know people are gonna talk shit on literally everything I do"
Meanwhile everyone's like "Bob Ross vibes"

[alexsmellie]

*any clear liquid* me: "is it B72?"
*cuts fabric for tacking edge* me: "Ooh Belgian linen?"
*Attaching painting to stretcher* me: "yes of course tacks are better than staples"

[reid]

"I need to penetrate the paint layer to access the void underneath."

*casually plunges a syringe into the Virgin Mary's forehead*

[staudinga]

Youtube recommendations, you've outdone yourself this time!

[randompersonwholikesmemes]

*(Year is 7015)* Restoring Bob Ross Painting

[mookimukay]

"I'll also use digital photography to document the location of these pieces so that they aren't lost or misplaced during these next steps."
"I'll take a pic on my phone and look at it"

[kinohir]

“The paint is flaking all over.”
Me: “girl has hella dry skin.”

[malevolentmarmalade]

“Now I know dozens of commenters will say that I should never begin on the face”
Bruh none of us know what the hell you’re doing it just looks like black magic