The Condé Museum regularly restores its collections (850 paintings, 2,500 drawings, 2,500 engravings, 1,500 antique photographs, 250 sculptures, etc.) and sets priorities in terms of restoration needs. The museum calls on the services of qualified professionals with university training, such as the Scientific and Technical Conservation-Restoration Masters from Paris-I University (MST) or the Artwork Restorers Training Institute (IFROA). These restorers are not government employees; they are independent professionals. On request from the conservation department, they draft reports on the condition of the works and submit proposals for performing restoration on those that are worst affected. If substantial restoration is required, the contract is awarded on the basis of a competition. These days, restoration works tend to be small-scale, as regular maintenance and a controlled climate (temperature and humidity) are preferable to large-scale, repeated restorations, which damage the works. Conservation emergencies (flaking paintings – on which the paint is raised – furniture on which the woodwork is at risk of breaking away when moved) always take priority over basic aesthetic restoration jobs (yellow, encrusted varnish, for example, altering the visual appearance of a work which is not at risk in any other way). Restoration work is generally performed within the château itself, in the museum workshops (there are separate restoration workshops for paintings, paper – for drawings and stamps – and photographs).

For groups, the Condé Museum offers the option of ‘Behind the decor’ tours of the restoration workshops.

The need for patronage:

Given the extent of the work and the number of works requiring restoration, the Condé Museum is unable to finance restoration of all works. This is why it turns to private patrons, of which first on the list are the Friends of the museum, an association created in 1971 and recognized as a public interest group, as well as the American Friends of Chantilly (an organization created in 2003 and recognized by the American government).
Other patrons are French and foreign associations (Association de Défense de l’Environnement de Vineuil-Saint-Firmin, Inner Wheel, Rotary Club, Friends of French Art from Los Angeles), private individuals (H.R.H. Prince Aga Khan, Mrs Cino del Luca), transnational companies (American Express, BNP Paribas, Generali, Crédit Agricole de l’Oise, BNP Paribas) and even, on occasion, small businesses such as the printing shop E. Grille of Chantilly, who decided in 1999 to restore Jean-François de Troy’s The Oyster Lunch.

An example of restoration in the grounds of the Château
• Temple of Venus


For more information about our patrons and restoration of the Chantilly Condé Museum collections, please contact: Nicole Garnier, chief conservator for the Condé Museum.
Tel.: +33 (0)3 44 62 62 64
E-mail: ngarnier@chateaudechantilly.com