Vive L'empereur by Edouard Detaille is a 3.7 x 4.5 m painting of a French battle scene. Once one of the most prized jewels in the collection, it was devastated by a flood in 1958. It was no longer possible to exhibit the painting and it languished in storage for almost half a century. The sheer size of the painting and magnitude of the task has limited past conservation efforts to measures that have only been able to tentatively stabilise its condition. However, fundraising through the Friends of Conservation managed to gather the estimated $100,000 budget needed for its long-awaited treatment. This money has been used to employ two interns, who will be co-supervised by staff at the two institutions, to conduct the conservation treatment. The remaining money will go towards covering the cost of transport, materials for treatment and an authentic replication of the original frame. In addition to the labour-intensive task of restoring the painting to its former glory, it is anticipated that conservation research will also be conducted on materials in the painting. Using facilities located at the university, material analysis of the binding media and pigments and technical examination will reveal important information pertaining to Detaille's technique and shed light on general artistic practices of this period. The logistics involved in conservation of a painting this size requires an unusual and interesting approach to conservation treatment. Progress Report - March 2003 > Progress Report - October 2002 > Progress Report - June 2002 > Progress Report - May 2002 > Progress Report - April 2002 > | 
