THE LUSTER OF BLACK VELVET: GRANDE ISA BY VLAHO BUKOVAC, CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND NEW DATA

Abstract

Despite great popularity, some facts about Grande Isa, the painting that brought to fame young Vlaho Bukovac at the beginning of his artistic career, remained unknown. Following the success at the Spring Exhibition in Paris 1882, the painting was reproduced on picture postcards and the author wrote of it in his autobiography. The details of what happened with the painting after the Salon showing, and before it was acquired by Pavle Beljanski, are less known. In that period it changed ownership, was restored and partially altered. Scientific and conservators’ analyses revealed new data concerning the original paint layers and previous restoration. Importantly, these results helped inform the decisions made on the recent cleaning and restoration project.