In Philip IV in Brown and Silver, how is the Cleaning controversy discussed?
Kenneth Clark, the director of The National Gallery at the time, oversaw a cleaning and restoration of the Silver Philip in 1936, which created significant controversy. Clark employed art restorer Helmut Ruhemann, whose work Clark described as "far more skillful and scientific [than other restorers]", to carry out the cleaning. Clark's biographer, James Stourton, described the controversy of the "cleaning wars" at the time:"Part of the problem was that Academicians thought that an artist should run the gallery (as indeed had usually been the case), rather than an art historian, and they actually enjoyed spats. The painting that aroused their feelings was the Velázquez portrait of Philip [IV], the so-called 'Silver Philip', that had just received the attentions of Ruhemann. The Daily Telegraph had been stirring up controversy by inviting well-known artists to voice their opinions on the subject. Critics included Alfred Munnings, William Nicholson, and Frank Brangwyn, who preferred to view the Old Masters through the golden glow of discoloured varnish, and even threatened the establishment of a Society for the Protection of Old Masters. A lot of ink was spilled on the matter of whether 'glazes' or varnish had been removed from the Velázquez. Clark defended the gallery in the letters page of The Times and Sir William Rothenstein wrote an express approval of 'the Silver Philip'...The matter rumbled on for over a year.Neil MacGregor, the director of The National Gallery from 1981 to 1987, acknowledged that Clark had been privately concerned about the restoration, stating that Clark was, “fearful of what might be found if the golden veils of dirt and varnish were ever to be removed”. However, years after the controversy, Clark himself said, "I do not regard cleaning controversies as of any importance. They are epidemics that take place about every twenty-five years."The picture was included in an exhibition at the National Gallery in 1947 entitled "Exhibition of Cleaned Pictures" and was displayed alongside Philip IV of Spain (also called Philip IV when Elderly), another portrait of Philip IV by Velázquez.
Helmut Ruhemann Daily Telegraph Alfred Munnings William Nicholson William Rothenstein Frank Brangwyn Kenneth Clark National Gallery The Daily Telegraph Philip IV of Spain Sir William Rothenstein