Zaindu-The Museum Restores Programme, 2010

Cooperation between the Museum and El Corte Inglés Bilbao began back in 1990. However, the partnership stepped up several rungs in 2000 when the Zaindu -The Museum restores programme was launched. Basically, every year under Zaindu restoration and conservation work is performed on a significant set of works from the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum permanent collection.

One of the most outstanding works selected for treatment in 2010 is the Portrait of Cardinal Francisco Javier Gardoqui, painted in Rome in 1816 by José de Madrazo (Santander, 1781 – Madrid, 1859) one of the most important portraits the painter ever produced. From the Museum’s collection of Basque art, To Market, dated around 1913-1915 and one of the cycle of paintings executed by Aurelio Arteta (Bilbao, 1879-Mexico City, 1940) for the Palacio or Mansion House, of Munoa in Cruces (Vizcaya). Two fairly typical works by local artist Andrés Nagel (San Sebastian, 1947) have been selected from the Museum’s collection of contemporary art. One is Friends from Bilbao and the other Art gallery owners from Madrid in Benidorm. From the part of its collection not usually on show and known as the hidden collection, the Museum has chosen to restore a plaster relief entitled Motherhood, produced in Paris in 1895 by Nemesio Mogrobejo (Bilbao 1875-Graz, Austria, 1910). The Museum also owns the version of the work done in bronze. Twelve drawings by Joan González (Barcelona, 1868?1908) from the hidden collection, including landscapes and scenes with figures, have likewise been selected for treatment.

The restored works will be presented in December.