'Tweede Bossche Wand' by Antoon Derkinderen
In the entrance hall of the town hall in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, impressive paintings by Dutch artist Antoon Derkinderen hang on both sides of the hall. These monumental works, each covering an area of no less than 50 square meters,
were commissioned as two separate pieces. The first wall was completed in 1892 and the second in 1896. The pieces currently on display here in the studio are part of the so-called ‘Second Bossche Wall’, which normally hangs on the right-hand side as you enter the hall.
Technique
For these works of art, the painter Derkinderen used tempera paint on canvas. This technique was chosen to achieve a matte effect, which is strongly reminiscent of traditional murals. This fits well with the monumental appearance of the building. Over time, however, a layer of varnish was applied to the paintings. This layer is not original and has made the surface uneven and shiny,
which distorts the original character of the works.
Restoration
An important part of the current restoration is therefore the careful removal of this disruptive varnish layer. The aim is to restore the original appearance of the paintings as much as possible and to allow their artistic and historical value to shine through once again.
More information about Antoon der Kinderen and 'De Bossche Wanden' you can find on the website of 's-Hertogenbosch Heritage (in Dutch).