Musée d'Orsay unveils giant restored Courbet masterpiece after 18-month public conservation

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris has presented Gustave Courbet's monumental painting 'A Burial at Ornans' following an 18-month restoration that was carried out in full view of museum visitors.

The vast canvas, measuring six metres by three metres, was conserved by a team from the Arcanes art conservation company. Throughout the process, gallery-goers could observe the restorers at work from a distance and participate in weekly question-and-answer sessions.

Annick Lemoine, president of the Musée d'Orsay, noted that this is the first time since 1881 that the work has been displayed at such a scale. She described the decision to restore it in the heart of the museum as a way to showcase the expertise of restorers and offer audiences a glimpse behind the scenes.

Cinzia Pasquali, head of the restoration team, said the public's engagement with the process was a rewarding experience. She admitted she had not expected visitors to show such strong interest in the technical aspects of conservation work.

This marks the second Courbet painting to undergo public restoration at the museum, following similar work on 'The Painter's Studio' a decade ago.

'A Burial at Ornans' depicts a procession of rural mourners from Courbet's hometown. When first exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1850–1851, the work caused a stir because canvases of this size were traditionally reserved for religious or historical subjects. Many art historians credit the painting with launching the Realism movement.