In February 2018, the Mulvane Art Museum launched Endangered Art, an initiative to fund the technical study and conservation of oil paintings in the permanent collection. Working with fine art conservation and frame specialists, the museum identified a group of important paintings that required treatment. They were shown in a series of exhibitions that provided a rare opportunity to see museum objects in need of care.
In May 2018, the Mulvane unveiled the first work to receive conservation: a seventeenth-century oil painting depicting the biblical meeting of David and Abigail. Since then, generous donations have funded the treatment of more than 35 paintings, including:
- Albert Bierstadt, Lander's Peak, c. 1863
- Thomas Dewing, Woman on Stairs, 1880
- Clarisse Madeleine Laurent, Eggs, 1892
The Endangered Art project has generated public programming and interdisciplinary research about the intersections of art, science, and technology in the field of conservation. It is a comprehensive effort that educates, engages, and enriches the community. You can fund this important work by making a donation. Your support is deeply appreciated.
