Exhibition and transport of Seurat painting

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    Date: 19 Mar 95
    From: Nick Tinari <butane [at] cpcn__com>
    Subject: Barnes paintings lined?
    To: Multiple recipients of list MUSEUM-L <MUSEUM-L [at] UNMVMA__BitNet>

    My understanding is that unlined paintings are much more susceptible
    to shock and vibration associated with travel. In addition  several
    of the Barnes paintings were lined with glue or paste adhesives,
    which the National Gallery (D.C) publication Art in Transit calls
    "very susceptible to dimensional changes with relative humidity
    variations." Also Seurat's les Poseuses had a history of flaking,
    and was re-lined sometime in the 20s or 30s. Considering its rarity
    and importance it is unbelievable that it was allowed to travel.
    Remember the Grand Jatte does not leave Chicago, and the the Bathers
    stays in London. Thanks for your interest.

    Nick Tinari

    Date: 19 Mar 95
    From: Nick Tinari <butane [at] cpcn__com>
    Subject: Re: ICOM Museum Marketing and Public Relations Committee

    A "bit of fun" is one thing. However risking our cultural heritage
    so that a museum can sell more books and postcards, not to mention
    tee shirts is another deal altogether. Recently lawyers for  the
    Philadelphia Museum of Art argued that a court imposed restriction
    on the travel of Seurat's extremely fragile les Poseuses should be
    lifted to allow the work in the Philadelphia show. One of the
    arguments: the catalog had already been printed and it featured the
    work on the cover! The court filing cited "immeasurable loss" if
    the painting was not in the show. The Barnes tour has set an all
    time low in museum marketing, from an institution that was once a
    bastion of serious study.

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:77
                  Distributed: Tuesday, March 21, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-77-015
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