Projects

In the studio

Restoration of a private collection featuring works by Marie-Henriette Tordeur (1906–1986)

The passing down of a family heritage from Liège.
(Consolidation of lifting paint, cleaning, removal of old varnish layers, filling of losses, retouching, and framing in collaboration with Angéli Bodson.)

In collaboration with Natural Caffè – Café Galerie in Ixelles

Head of studio: Emilie Desbarax
Photo credits: Simply Studio.

Haystacks, Hesbaye, M-H. Tordeur, 56 × 74 cm, late 19th – early 20th century.

Woodland, M-H. Tordeur, 42 × 52 cm, late 19th – early 20th century.

Restoration of a family painting in Olloy-sur-Viroin — private client

Family painting — 120 × 150 cm — late 19th century.

Restoration treatment. The painting was heavily soiled and the varnish had oxidised. In addition, the painting had suffered water damage and showed significant moisture-related issues, making the paint layer friable and highly sensitive. The artwork is now stabilised. It has regained its depth and luminosity thanks to the removal of accumulated dirt and yellowed varnish, which had been masking the original colours.

Restoration of a complex tear

Painting by Jac Martin-Ferrières (1893–1972, France)

Cleaning and retouching of this acrylic on canvas

Jean Capdeville (1917-2011, France)

Varnish removal from this portrait of a lady dating from the early 19th century

Varnish removal in progress

Oil on panel by Louis de Caullery (early 17th century)

Surface cleaning, varnish removal, retouching and application of a new varnish

Oil on canvas by Luigi Crespi (1708-1779)

Cleaning, filling losses and retouching of this acrylic on canvas

Jean Capdeville (1917-2011, France)

Varnish removal from two oil paintings on canvas from the early 20th century

Surface cleaning in progress on a mid-20th-century painting on canvas

Varnish removal

before – after

Varnish removal

before – after

Varnish removal

before – after

Varnish removal in progress on this early 20th-century oil on panel

On site

2023

Van Buuren Museum

Nestled within a listed Art Deco architectural and interior heritage setting, the Van Buuren Museum & Gardens reveals a cultural treasure of exceptional beauty. Built in 1928 by architects Léon Govaerts and Alexis Van Vaerenbergh, the villa embodies the very essence of Art Deco, preserving its distinctive international character influenced by the Dutch and French schools.

Subject: Conservation treatment of the works held in the Van Buuren Museum’s storage facilities (condition assessment, dust removal and, if necessary, urgent conservation treatment)
Project leads: Sofia Hennen and Pedro de Campos – Haeritage – Art Conservation-Restoration, Art History & Heritage Science
Team: Sofia Hennen, Pedro de Campos , Alexia Melianou and Emilie Desbarax

2024

Musea Brugge

World-class art and heritage across 13 monumental sites – A cultural organisation bringing together 13 exceptional sites and monuments in the historic centre of Bruges. The collection comprises more than 70,000 works and objects, ranging from Early Netherlandish art – with masters such as Van Eyck – to contemporary art, as well as archaeology, applied arts, furniture and local history.

Subject: Conservation treatment of works held in the museum storage facilities (Saint John’s Hospital Museum and Groeninge Museum). Condition assessment, consolidation of lifting paint layers, surface cleaning, urgent conservation treatment where necessary, reframing of the works, and packing for transport to the new storage facilities.
Project lead: Sofia Hennen
Manager: Emma Balduck
Team: several independent conservator-restorers.

2023

Redershuis (Shipowners’ House)

The Eugeen Van Mieghem Museum is housed in the Redershuis, a restored historic building located at 9 Ernest Van Dijckkaai in Antwerp. This luxurious townhouse in the Italian Neo-Renaissance style was designed in 1896 by architect Jos Hertogs for Gustave Albrecht, a city councillor responsible for port affairs. Today, the building belongs to the Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association. Since 2010, it has housed the museum dedicated to Antwerp artist Eugeen Van Mieghem (1875–1930), known for his striking depictions of everyday life and the bustling port at the turn of the 20th century.

Subject : Conservation treatment of the mural paintings (consolidation of lifting paint layers, filling of losses and retouching).
Project lead: Mariane Van Obbergen – independent conservator-restorer specialising in historic frames and polychrome wood.
Managers: Mariane Van Obbergen and Emilie Desbarax
Team: Mariane Van Obbergen, Emilie Desbarax and Emma Balduck, Hannah Devries.

2026

Saint Remigius Church in Angleur

Subject : Conservation treatment of artworks damaged by the 2022 floods (condition assessment, antifungal treatment, dust removal, consolidation of lifting paint layers, removal from frames, installation of new hanging systems, etc.).
Project lead: Emilie Desbarax

Restoration of a wall painting — Olloy-sur-Viroin

12 m² — unsigned, after Léon Pouteau — early 20th century — located in Olloy-sur-Viroin, Viroinval, in a private house.

The work is an oil wall painting on lime plaster. It consists of a panoramic landscape depicting a North African scene and another view of the Rhine, with faux oak wood decoration and faux marble — Philippeville marble. 580 hours of work, equivalent to three and a half months, on a surface of 12 m².

Restoration project carried out by ED Conservation

ALTRITEMPI-MONUMENT GROUP, société de conservation and restoration company specialising in historical monuments, Flanders, Belgium

Saint Germanus Church in Tienen

Restoration of the Neo-Gothic interior — retouching of stencils and wall decorations.

“The House of the Free Boatmen”

Restoration of the Gothic interior of “The House of the Free Boatmen”, dating from 1531, in Ghent — consolidation of wall paintings, cleaning, varnish removal and retouching.

Hall of Mirrors of the Brussels Parliament

Restoration of the bases and retouching of the gilding on them, as well as on the pilasters.

Parish Church of Korbeek-Lo

Retouching of faux-wood doors, consolidation, cleaning, filling losses, retouching of the lower part of the altar, exposure of overpainted areas, filling losses and retouching of wall decorations.

Beguinage Church of Mechelen

Restoration of large-format paintings and wall paintings in the Beguinage Church of Mechelen, dating from the 17th century — surface cleaning / varnish removal of the paintings, consolidation and retouching.

Egmont Palace

Restoration of the interior of the “Egmont Palace or Arenberg Palace, Petit or Grand Hôtel d’Egmont”, dating from 1532 — Brussels. Restoration of a canvas painting mounted on the ceiling of the Louis XVI room. Cleaning, varnish removal, filling losses and retouching.

Restoration of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in London.

(Ontario, Canada). Mid 19th century.

Public Art restoration in Burlington.

(Ontario, Canada)