Fondation Beyeler - Nationale Suisse Conservation Project 2009-12:
Henri Matisse, "Acanthes"
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nationale Suisse and the Fondation Beyeler have agreed to jointlysponsor an extensive, three-year restoration project (2009-12). Itwill be devoted to the scholarly investigation and restoration ofHenri Matisse's "Acanthes" (1953), a major work in his series oflarge format "Papiers découpés," or paper cut-outs. The project willbe continually documented on a special website. In addition, ashowroom is planned for 2010 in which museum visitors can witness therestoration process first-hand. The project is aimed both atspecialists and a broader, interested public.Statements"The Fondation Beyeler is proud to be able to collaborate withNationale Suisse on the restoration of Matisse's "Acanthes" We arefortunate to have a committed partner with international experiencein conservation to assist in this complex project. Our sharedinterest is to investigate cultural assets, make them accessible tothe public, and conserve them for the benefit of coming generations." SamKeller Director,Fondation BeyelerFine art is of great significance for Nationale Suisse. The affinitywith art is reflected not only in the motto, "the art of insurance,"but also in a major collection of contemporary Swiss art andinsurance policies adapted to the individual needs of the clients."Securing cultural assets while making them accessible to futuregenerations of viewers is one of the most important tasks of an artinsurance company," says Dr. Dietrich von Frank, head of the HNWI/ArtEurope department at Nationale Suisse. "When I approached Sam Keller,director of the Fondation Beyeler, in spring 2009, in order todiscuss the possibilities of a partnership between insurer and museumin this regard, he suggested we devote ourselves to this key work byMatisse." Dr. Dietrich von Frank Head,HNWI/Art EuropeThe Art-Historical Significance of Henri Matisse's "Acanthes"Henri Matisse (1869-1954) is one of the most significant artists ofclassical modernism alongside Pablo Picasso. Matisse is representedin the Beyeler Collection with ten masterworks, including four of hislegendary "Papiers découpés," compositions in cut-out paper from hislate period. For Matisse, these marked the apex of his efforts tocreate the ultimate, harmonious image, the "décoration" he pursuedthroughout his life. In addition, cutting shapes out of paper coloredbeforehand with gouache, and arranging these shapes into compositions- initially on the walls of his residence in Cimiez near Nice - inhis eyes represented a synthesis of artistic activities: anunprecedented combination of drawing, sculpture and painting.Ernst Beyeler early on recognized the importance of theselong-underestimated works, which today rarely appear on the artmarket. Back in 1960 he acquired two cut-outs from the Matisse familyholdings: "Nu bleu I" (1952, 106 x 78 cm), a veritable icon of modernart and one of the most prominent works in the Beyeler Collection,and "Acanthes" (1953, 311 x 350.5 cm), an extremely large-scale"décoration" bursting with joie de vivre. This major example of thelarge-scale Papiers découpés was Matisse's penultimate work. Furtherimportant specimens in this medium are in the collections of theMuseum of Modern Art, New York, the National Gallery of Art,Washington, D.C., the Tate London, the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam,the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, and the Musée Matisse, Nice."Acanthes" was last on view at the Fondation Beyeler in theexhibitions "Henri Matisse" (2006) and "The Other Collection: Homageto Hildy and Ernst Beyeler" (2007-08).The Restoration ProjectDue to the different materials employed, Matisse's cut-outs areextremely fragile works, as the artist himself well knew. As aresult, the stabilization of these pieces by means of conservationmeasures represents a considerable challenge to restorers.In spite of its large format, "Acanthes" is fortunately in a verygood state of preservation. It consists of several layers of wood,canvas, and various papers and pigments. It is just this diversity ofmaterials that raises problems of long-term conservation; theirdifferent aging processes and the resulting damage have already beenobserved in comparable works.The interdisciplinary project therefore extends beyond paper andpaint conservation to encompass an art-historical investigation. Thefirst aim of the project is a scholarly and scientific study of thework. It is hoped that analyses of painting technique will providedetailed information regarding the artist's methods and intentions.In a second step, preventive maintenance and conservation strategieswill be developed and applied.In order to do justice to the quality and importance of "Acanthes,"an international team of restoration experts will be recruited tosupplement the art-historical research efforts. This extremelycomplex project will be conducted from 2009 to 2012.Further information and press materials are available from:Sophia Schor, Tel. +41 (0)61 275 23 86, Fax +41 ((0)61 275 22 21,sophia.schor(at)nationalesuisse.ch, www.nationalesuisse.ch, NationaleSuisse, Generaldirektion, Steinengraben 41, CH-4003 BaselCatherine Schott, Tel. + 41 (0)61 645 97 21, Fax + 41 (0)61 645 9739, presse(at)beyeler.com, www.beyeler.com, Fondation Beyeler,Baselstrasse 77, CH-4125 RiehenBrief profileNationale Suisse is an innovative, The headquarters of Swissinternational Swiss insurer providing National Insurance Company Ltdfirst-rate risk and pension solutions is in Basel. Nationale Suisseand tailored niche products. The Group is listed on the SIX Swisshas gross premiums of CHF 1.67 Exchange (NATN). On 30 Junebillion, about 30% of which come from 2009 the Group employed 1,796their subsidiaries in Germany, persons (FTEs).Belgium, Italy and Spain.Downloads DisclaimerYou can access this media release on Swiss National Insuranceour website www.nationalesuisse.ch Company wishes to point outunder Medien/Medienmitteilung. that any forward-looking statements in this report are based on projections, estimates and assumptions. The influence of uncertain and unforeseeable circumstances and certain risks may mean that actual performance deviates significantly from our expectations.InformationSophia Schor Nationale SuisseMedia relations Steinengraben 41Tel. +41 61 275 23 86 4003 BaselFax +41 61 275 22 21 www.nationalesuisse.chsophia.schor(at)nationalesuisse.chImportant datesPublication of Annual Report 22.04.2010Media conference to announce financial 22.04.2010results at Hotel Widder, ZurichFinancial analysts' conference at 22.04.2010Hotel Widder, ZurichAnnual General Meeting 07.06.2010Publication of Semi-Annual Report 23.09.2010http://hugin.info/100296/R/1347419/324176.pdf --- End of Message ---Nationale SuisseSteinengraben 41 Basel WKN: 1081197; ISIN: CH0010811971; Index: SMCI, SPI, SPIEX;Listed: Main Market in SIX Swiss Exchange;
Datum: 15.10.2009 - 15:55 Uhr
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Henri Matisse, "Acanthes""
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