The restorer revealed how the painting “The Ninth Shaft” has changed in 176 years

At the bottom of Ivan Aivazovsky’s painting “The Ninth Shaft” for 176 years, pigments related to the original image, which the artist subsequently blocked, became noticeable. About this IS "Vesti" told the artist-restorer of the highest category of the Department of restoration of easel oil painting of the Russian Museum Olga Klenova.

Here is the lower image of the primary mast, which the artist covered with the next layer and abandoned it. But nevertheless, those pigments that were included in this drawing for 176 years surfaced and manifested themselves, said Klenova.

“The Ninth Shaft” Aivazovsky wrote in 1850. The painting is considered one of the most famous works of the artist and is stored in the collection of the Russian Museum.

In 2016, the canvas entered a large-scale exhibition of Aivazovsky in the Tretyakov Gallery.

Earlier, on May 26, the Russian Museum announced the beginning of the first comprehensive restoration of the “Ninth Shaft”. The need for work was associated with the deterioration of the soil and the colorful layer: experts discovered increasing zones of Krakelyur, new fractures and areas of detachment of painting.

On October 5, the museum announced the completion of the restoration. The work lasted four months. Specialists strengthened the soil and the colorful layer throughout the surface of the canvas, eliminated areas of detachment and restored the lacquer coating. At the same time, the historical frame of the painting was restored - more than 100 lost carving fragments were restored in it.