Courbet's 'A Burial at Ornans' Unveiled After Restoration at Musée d'Orsay
On September 7, Gustave Courbet's 'A Burial at Ornans' (1849–1850) was unveiled in the newly designated 'Salle Sylvain Amic' at the Musée d'Orsay, a tribute to the late president who passed away in 2025. The public restoration, which commenced in May 2025 and was managed by Arcanes and the C2RMF, allowed 1,120 visitors to witness the conservators in action. The artwork, measuring 3.15 meters by 6.68 meters, suffered from darkened varnish and was loose on its original frame. The process of thinning the varnish not only brightened the colors but also revealed five centimeters of previously concealed composition, enhancing the depth of the grave. Artifacts from the painting are set to be exhibited in late 2026.
Key facts
- Restoration of Courbet's 'A Burial at Ornans' completed after over a year, revealed on September 7.
- The painting is displayed in Room 7 of the Musée d'Orsay, renamed 'Salle Sylvain Amic'.
- Restoration was conducted in public view, with 1,120 visitors given close access.
- 405 students and teachers from fifteen classes of the Académie de Besançon participated via 'Classes Culture'.
- The painting measures 3.15 x 6.68 meters and had a chassis dating from 1884.
- Varnish removal revealed a brighter palette, including blue stockings previously seen as green.
- Unfolding the edges revealed about five centimeters of previously hidden composition, deepening the grave.
- Objects depicted in the painting will be displayed in a vitrine next to it from late 2026.
- The painting caused a scandal at the 1850–1851 Salon for its mundane subject matter.
- Restoration was carried out by Arcanes, directed by the Musée d'Orsay and C2RMF.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Musée d'Orsay
- Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France (C2RMF)
- Arcanes
- Académie de Besançon
Locations
- Ornans
- France
- Paris
- Besançon