Project Polychromy Conservation - PoCo
The Project PoCo (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027) focuses on training a new generation of specialists in the conservation of polychrome objects. Knowledge transfer takes place in a master-apprentice setting, in cooperation with various project partners from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
PoCo News
Project Background
Several museums, as well as a number of churches and monasteries in the Netherlands, possess significant collections of polychromed statues made from stone and wood. The declining knowledge in this field poses a threat to the preservation of this valuable and rare (religious) heritage. Unfortunately, the specialization in 'Polychromy' within conservator training programs is no longer offered in the Netherlands. This is a considerable loss for both the museum sector and the broader field of restoration.
At present, heritage institutions in the Netherlands rely on just two polychromy specialists, both of whom will retire within a few years. SRAL aims to preserve the knowledge and expertise of these, and other European specialists, by passing it on to a new generation of conservators. This includes not only practical restoration skills but also the ability to interpret historical layers, identify damage phenomena, and employ various research methods, all of which are essential for the effective restoration of polychrome sculptures.
Project content
Project PoCo aims to train a new generation of specialists in the conservation of polychromy. Three junior conservators will receive hands-on training over the course of three years, with the goal of becoming experts in polychrome sculpture. This knowledge transfer occurs within a master-apprentice model, primarily taking place in Maastricht at SRAL under the guidance of Arnold Truyen, with guest lectures by the second Dutch specialist, Aleth Lorne. Additionally, the junior specialists will undertake internships with experts in Belgium and Germany, including at the Royal Institute for Art Heritage (KIK-IRPA) in Brussels and the Suermondt Ludwig Museum in Aachen.
The intensive collaboration between senior specialists/trainers, the younger generation of conservators, and several Dutch museums with significant polychrome collections (the PoCo partners) establishes a solid foundation for the continued transfer and development of knowledge within a sustainable professional network.
The three junior specialists selected for this program are: Ausrine Dambrauskaite, Rosanne Snijders, and Manon Antenbrink.
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Examplary objects
The project utilizes polychrome objects from the collections of the project partners. Ten representative works have been selected, covering various style periods of Maasland art, including the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neo-Gothic. These works require specialized restoration skills specific to polychromy, such as microscopic analysis, paint layer identification, cleaning, retouching, and even reconstruction.
The project will also involve close collaboration with the participating collections, incorporating the often complex decision-making processes, which may vary depending on the artwork's function—whether religious, museum display, or repurposing. Throughout the project, the ten works will be examined according to current standards, including cross-sections, X-ray analysis, and 3D reconstructions. The final restoration may be carried out based on the findings of this preliminary research.
PoCo Partners
Musea:
Bonnefanten - Maastricht
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen - Rotterdam
Museum Catharijneconvent - Utrecht
Centraal Museum- Utrecht
Museum Krona – Uden
Limburgs Museum - Venlo
Rijksmuseum - Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum Twenthe – Enschede
Museum W - Weert
Other institutions:
Bisdom Roermond
Universiteit van Amsterdam - UvA
Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed - RCE