Restoration Team on a Public Site
The stage curtain of the Chatelet Theater
painted by Gerard Garouste
Sponsor
City of Paris - Department of Cultural Affairs
Branch of Heritage and History
Conservation of Civil and Religious Artworks for the City of Paris, (COARC)
16 rue des Blancs Manteaux 75004 Paris
Team
Leading Curator : Daniel Imbert
Project Manager : Guillaume Bénard-Tertrais
Co-contractors : Cécile Charpentier, Guillaume Bouchayer, Aurélia Garnier-Lienart,
Jean-Sylvain Brochu, Lucia Tranchino
Interns : Aurélie Terral, Alice Panhard
The restored curtain
Mission
Restoration and reinstallation of the decorative stage curtain
Work carried out in July and August 2009
Phase 1
« Manufacture des Œillets », (Grommet factory) in Ivry-sur-Seine
15th of July - 12th August
The six canvas sections of the curtain were rolled around three tubes and transported the Grommet factory for their restoration.
Tasks performed at the factory:
- Eliminations of previous restorations
- Consolidation of the rips
- Reconstruction of the paint lacunae
- Consolidation of the original canvas
- Grommet replacement
- Retouching of the paint layer lacunae
Start of the restoration:
1. Unrolling of the canvas in order to restore the reverse.
2. Inspection of all the alterations and damages of the lower part of the curtain (the hemline of the curtain).
1. Work done on the reverse of the curtain.
Mechanical removal of the pieces of canvas used for consolidation during previous restorations. This elimination of previous restorations allows for the treatment of the deformations.
2. Frontal view: reintegration of a rip in the curtain.
Phase 2
Théâtre du Châtelet
12th of august - 28th of august
The rolled up canvases were transported back to the theater in order to be assembled, section by section. The curtain was then reinstalled in its original place.
Tasks performed in the theater:
- Unrolling of the curtain
- Sewing of the sections
- Finishing touches
1. Transfering the rolled up curtain in order to be reassembled and reinstalled.
2. Sewing of the curtain sections.
1. Finishing touches and preparation for the reinstallation.