It is amazing how the effects of age end up coloring our interpretation of art. The faded colors and lines of old pieces seem to lend an air of gravitas. When we see the paintings restored to their original colors, it can often feel like some of that gravitas has been removed and the colors become garish and the shapes cartoonlike.
After the restoration of the Sistine Chapel, a number of art historians were shocked at the results. Many had assumed that the darkened, muted palette they were used to was intentional. (A few examples: [1] [2])
The restoration of the Ghent altarpiece by Jan van Eyck changed the lamb at the center of the piece in a way that lots of people have found... bizarre and slightly disturbing [3].
And the strangest example is probably Greek architecture and statuary, which we today consider to be the height of dignity and gravitas, but were originally brightly painted. [4] But if we were to paint the Parthanon bright primary colors like the Googleplex, would we be recovering something or losing something? It feels like a bit of both.
[1]: https://external-preview.redd.it/I4wkSd0S_hGySQbGLAtITMMPJq-...
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gardenbeforeandafter.jpg
[3]: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51205614
[4]: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180119-when-the-parthe...
After the restoration of the Sistine Chapel, a number of art historians were shocked at the results. Many had assumed that the darkened, muted palette they were used to was intentional. (A few examples: [1] [2])
The restoration of the Ghent altarpiece by Jan van Eyck changed the lamb at the center of the piece in a way that lots of people have found... bizarre and slightly disturbing [3].
And the strangest example is probably Greek architecture and statuary, which we today consider to be the height of dignity and gravitas, but were originally brightly painted. [4] But if we were to paint the Parthanon bright primary colors like the Googleplex, would we be recovering something or losing something? It feels like a bit of both.
[1]: https://external-preview.redd.it/I4wkSd0S_hGySQbGLAtITMMPJq-...
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gardenbeforeandafter.jpg
[3]: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51205614
[4]: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180119-when-the-parthe...