Studio Rubens - The Enthroned Madonna

The restoration of the monumental altarpiece The Enthroned Madonna Surrounded by Saints by Peter Paul Rubens took place between September 2023 and 2025. Due to the sheer scale of the masterpiece, the restoration had to be carried out in the gallery itself.

The Enthroned Madonna Surrounded by Saints was so large that Studio Rubens occupied no less than a quarter of the Rubens Gallery. The museum turned this necessity into an opportunity and created a unique setting: Studio Rubens. There, the masterpiece underwent a careful, two-year-long restoration.

Scanning and analyzing the canvas, removing the varnish, treating the reverse, applying a new varnish layer. Every phase of the process required angelic patience.

To restore The Enthroned Madonna to its former glory, restorers and researchers worked intensively for months on an impressive scaffold. Visitors were able to follow the restoration process from a short distance. Prior to the restoration, a study was conducted by the collection research team of the KMSKA in collaboration with the University of Antwerp.

Revisit the restoration through this delightful video series.

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