Restoration Team on a Public Site
Theater Molière, Sète, 2012-2013
Restoration of the painted canvases by Cécile Charpentier
Sub-contracted restoration carried out in collaboration with the Meriguet-Carrère Atelier
During the 2012 general restoration of the theater, Cecile Charpentier was responsible for the restoration of the painted canvases situated on the ceiling and on the walls: cavea, the foyer, the main stairway.
The cavea before restoration.
The cupola
The 19th century decor of the cupola is a group of maroufled canvases one on top of the other according to a precise order. Numerous decorative groups are set on a sky blue background, with repetitive motives, such as the balustrade.
Initially painted on canvases in the atelier, they were then cut according to precise shapes in order to be adjusted to the composition and inserted to the décor.
The canvases were arranged and held into place by nails and were in a precarious state of conservation, due to the mold development as a result of water infiltrations over the years.
Numbered sections of canvas maroufled on the cupola.
We have numbered each canvas piece in order to identify the order and placement of each section.
The wall support was then restored and each of the sections were laid out flat for restoration.
The final retouches were done once the canvases were maroufled.
State of the cupola before restoration.
Damages caused by water accumulation and mold.
Taking down of the maroufled sections.
Treatment of the wall support and of the canvases.
Detail after restoration.
Painted canvases of the Avant Foyer
The decorative ensemble is composed of a painting maroufled on a vaulted ceiling, of two maroufled lunettes on a canvas and twelve spandrels.
1. Ceiling of the Avant Foyer. 2. Lunette of the west wall.
The canvas maroufled on the vault had numerous blisters of the paint layer. The cleaning and the consolidation were done prior to the filling and retouching of the lacunae.
The surfaces of the two lunettes were very dusty and covered in grime. The canvases were deformed and the paint layer had numerous blisters. The two canvases were taken down, restored and then maroufled on a treated and clean wall support.
The gold luster was recovered after the treatment of the spandrels.
A spandrel and the West lunette restored.
The foyer
Ensemble is composed of a painted ceiling, eight sidewall oil paintings on maroufled canvases, and eight medallions.
The painted ceiling and three paintings of the foyer.
The main stairway
Decorative ensemble is composed of four maroufled paintings on canvases, of approximately 5m in height.
View of the four paintings from the main stairway, East and West.
Sponsor
Project Manager : Atelier Mériguet-Carrère,
Sub-contractor : Cécile Charpentier,
Contracting firm : Thau Aglo,
Project Supervisors : Fabre/Speller/Breysse, Architects.
Team led by Cecile Charpentier for the paint layer
and by Guillaume Bénard-Tertrais for the support
Restorers : Jean-Sylvain Brochu, Anne Laure Capra, Camille Isambert.
Practical Information
Théâtre Molière, Avenue Victor Hugo, 34200 Sète, France.
Phone : 04 67 74 66 97