An art collector in Spain has been left stunned by the botched restoration of a copy of a painting by Baroque artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.
The Valencia-based private collector paid €1,200 ($1,355; £1,087) for it to be cleaned by a furniture restorer, according to Spain’s Europa Press.
But despite two attempts to fix it, the picture of the Immaculate Conception has been left unrecognisable.
The incident has drawn comparisons with other recent “restorations” in Spain.
There is currently no law in Spain forbidding people from restoring artwork, even if they do so without the necessary skills.
In a statement, the country’s Professional Association of Restorers and Conservators (Acre) condemned the lack of legal protections, and called the recent incident an act of “vandalism“.
“This lack of regulation translates into an absence of protection of our heritage,” said Acre.
I – Word Understanding
Stunned – so shocked that one is temporarily unable to react
Botched – done badly or carelessly
Vandalism – deliberate destruction or damage to a property
II – Have Your Say
1, How do you feel about this restoration? Have you heard of anything similar to this? What would you do if you were the owner of a botched restoration?
2, Why is restoration important and how do you think it is done in your area?
3, Do you know some of the important restorations done in your county?
a, Paintings
b, Buildings
c, Sculptures
d, Other crafts
748 Copy of Spanish Baroque painting botched by amateur restoration
