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Paris' Orsay Museum Opens up the Wonders of Art Restoration to the Public Gaze

Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Paris' Orsay Museum Opens up the Wonders of Art Restoration to the Public Gaze

Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)
Art restorers work on Gustave Courbet's painting titled "A Burial at Ornans" (Un enterrement a Ornans), created between 1849 and 1850, at the Orsay Museum in Paris on May 7, 2025. (AFP)

As they painstakingly scrape grime off a monumental painting by French artist Gustave Courbet, the restorers do a remarkable job of ignoring their unusual surroundings: They're watched by crowds of people, many recording on mobile phones.

Paris' Orsay Museum has thrown open to the public a process that often happens behind closed doors.

The cleaning and repairs to "A Burial at Ornans," one of the museum's signature works that Courbet painted between 1849 and 1850, are taking place in a bespoke enclosure with windows for visitors to peer through.

"A great idea," said Jennifer Dasal, a visiting art historian from North Carolina. "If it’s lasting for a while, people can come back and they can watch the restoration over time."

The restoration is expected to take about a year. The painting hasn't had a major overhaul for about 50 years. Layers of varnish that yellowed over time have dulled Courbet's colors. The weight of the huge work has deformed its frame, and its canvas has stitching, folds and tears that need attention.

The museum also plans free guided tours of their work for those who register on its website, with three time slots every Thursday morning from June 5.

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Saudi Museums Commission, Philharmonie de Paris Seek to Deepen Cooperation in Music, Museums

The agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s cultural ambitions under Vision 2030. SPA
The agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s cultural ambitions under Vision 2030. SPA
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Saudi Museums Commission, Philharmonie de Paris Seek to Deepen Cooperation in Music, Museums

The agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s cultural ambitions under Vision 2030. SPA
The agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s cultural ambitions under Vision 2030. SPA

The Saudi Museums Commission has signed an executive program with the Cité de la Musique – Philharmonie de Paris to boost cooperation in the fields of museums and music.

The agreement, which aligns with Saudi Arabia’s cultural ambitions under Vision 2030, aims to strengthen cultural ties and foster joint initiatives between the two nations. It was signed by Museums Commission Acting CEO Ibrahim Alsanousi and Philharmonie de Paris CEO Olivier Mantei.

Key areas of cooperation include artifact loans, shared collections, and the exchange of historical musical instruments with the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum in Jeddah. The program also covers collaborative traveling exhibitions and cultural events.

The executive program calls for the development of specialized training and educational initiatives for children and families, including workshops and interactive installations adapted from the Philharmonie’s programs for young audiences.

It also facilitates the exchange of expertise through researcher visits, seminars, and collaborative academic publications related to both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Alsanousi said the agreement represents a major step forward in cultural collaboration between Saudi Arabia and France. He emphasized that music is a key element of cultural identity and that the partnership will help transform the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum into an interactive and inspiring space for musical education and engagement.

Mantei praised the agreement and expressed pride in working with the Museums Commission. He commended Saudi Arabia’s cultural vision and said the partnership reflects a strong commitment to mutual artistic and social dialogue.

The signing of the executive program followed a cultural memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the French Ministry of Culture, which seeks to strengthen cultural cooperation and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.