Bart Verbeke

Bringing back the beauty of the past

• Bart has been restoring art to its former splendour since 1981
• He uncovers history similarly to the way an archaeologist might
• His most memorable project was in Ghent’s St Bavo's Cathedral

Bart Verbeke obtained his diploma in art restoration in 1981 and landed his first big assignment just a few months later. “The restoration of 25 paintings in a historical church in Flanders, Belgium, was a job that took two years. It was a swift start for my career,” he recalls. In Bart's view, an art restorer must bring the original painting back to life as much as possible. “Some believe you should not correct the effects of historical ageing, but I feel the original artists deserve better,” he explains. He compares his work to that of an archaeologist. “We dig up the beauty from the past, from under the layers of dirt and varnish, uncover aspects that have remained hidden for many generations. I sometimes feel that art books should be reprinted after certain featured paintings have been restored, to show the true character of these works of art.”

Interview

©Atelier Bart Verbeke

©Atelier Bart Verbeke

What is the most memorable project of your career?

I had the honour of working on 13 monumental paintings from the 18th century in Ghent’s St Bavo's Cathedral, which also houses the famous Ghent Altarpiece. The paintings’ trompe-l'oeil effects were brought back to light by thorough cleaning. I am glad to say that I have been the preferred art restorer for the works at the cathedral since 1984.

In what way is your craft linked to where you live?

What I do is to take care of local art heritage. I work mostly in Flanders, occasionally in Wallonia. I do not really need to look beyond the borders of Belgium to find work, as there is so much art to care for here. I work for museums, churches, city halls, public institutions, gallery owners, collectors, and so on.

What are your specialisations?

I master different disciplines, which is crucial for this work. For example, I need to have knowledge about chemistry, but also about history of art. One particular asset that I possess is that I also have a good artistic feeling and background, and I still paint and draw in my free time.

Could your craft be considered in danger?

I do not think any technology could replace me any time soon. Computers and AI are good systems for analyses, but you cannot let a machine carry out the retouching on paintings for example. Besides that, I do see a problem in the education system, at least in Flanders, where students graduate with insufficient specialist competencies because they do not receive enough practical classes.

Bart Verbeke is a master artisan: he began his career in 1981 and he started teaching in 2005

Where