The Beaux-Arts de Paris has just completed the restoration of one of the most precious works in its collections: the Trinité aux Chanoines, painted for the canons of Notre-Dame de Paris by the Master of Dunois in the first half of the 15th century. This exceptional work is today one of the three rare surviving examples of Parisian painting from the first half of the 15th century, along with the Last Judgment in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Jouvenel des Ursins Family in the Musée de Cluny. Unlike these two paintings, it has never undergone excessive restoration and is therefore an extraordinary testimony to the pictorial practice of this period.
The restoration was carried out between December 2020 and May 2022 by Emanuela Bonaccini for the paint layer, Jonathan Graindorge-Lamour for the support and Marie Dubost for the frame, who benefited from the regular advice of a monitoring committee. It was carried out in the premises of the Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France (C2RMF), which was able to carry out scientific analyses and imagery highlighting the pigments used, the underlying preliminary tracings and the methods used to produce the gold embossing. These results were decisive in the choices that had to be made during the restoration.
Thanks to the cleaning of the very dirty work, the lightening of the varnishes, the bringing together of the wooden panels, the removal of the very old repaints and of the mastic, the restoration of the original colors and lines of the composition was possible. The frame, which probably dates from the 19th century and was repainted in black during the 20th century, has recovered its original golden tone. The restoration has also allowed the work to be protected by a Mirogard glass, a buffer frame and a back.
The Trinité aux chanoines returned to rue Bonaparte at the beginning of September. It will remain on display until December in the Lesoufaché room where it will be the subject of educational workshops.
La Trinité aux chanoines avant sa restauration
La Trinité aux chanoines après sa restauration
