Label
2023, "Endangered Art Conserved"
Born in Paola, Kansas in 1870, Henry Salem Hubbell was a member of the artist community known as the Giverny Circle of American Impressionists. The subject of this sumptuously decorated interior scene is soprano Mariska de Horvath Aldrich. It was painted just before her debut at the Paris opera.
This work has not yet been conserved. In order to restore it to optimal condition, conservators will need to clean the darkened varnish from the surface and correct areas of damage and paint loss. Additionally, the frame’s minor breakages and losses will need to be restored and its heavy gold paint removed so that the frame can be re-gilded.Label
2024, “Endangered Art: Reclaiming a Legacy”
Born in Paola, Kansas, Henry Salem Hubbell was a member of the Giverny Circle of American Impressionists. The subject of this sumptuously decorated interior scene is soprano Mariska de Horvath Aldrich, who debuted at the Paris opera soon after it was painted. Caprice was shown at the Paris Salon of 1908 where it was lauded by critics, who noted, “The likeness is striking, the treatment original.”
Conservators cleaned the darkened varnish from the surface, corrected areas of the painting that had been damaged by previous unsuccessful restoration attempts, and applied a protective new barrier coat.