A 19th-century plaster sculpture that spent 13 years hidden away in storage is now being meticulously restored in full view of museum visitors at the Fine Arts Museum of Cambrai in northern France. The 7.5-foot-tall artwork titled "Before the Stone Age" is undergoing public restoration at the foot of the museum's grand staircase, giving visitors an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at art conservation.
The impressive sculpture, created in 1881 by local artist Nestor Emile Joseph Carlier, depicts a dramatic scene of a man and wolf carved in plaster. After more than a decade in storage, museum director Franck de Frias made the decision to bring the work back into the spotlight. "The sculpture was in storage in a wooden crate. One day we opened it, and we had a revelation: it must be exhibited in the museum," de Frias explained.
Professional art restorers Nadia Zine and Anne-Laure Goron are leading the painstaking restoration work. The sculpture has suffered significant damage over the years, with dirt accumulation, general deterioration, and most notably, the wolf's mouth broken into seven separate fragments. All pieces of the damaged wolf's jaw have been carefully preserved and will need to be reassembled like a complex puzzle.
The restoration process involves carefully peeling away layers of plaster "like a mask" and methodically reconstructing the broken elements. "The goal is not to return to the original, to exactly restore the work. The primary objective is above all to preserve what exists," explained restorer Anne-Laure Goron, emphasizing the conservation-focused approach to the project.
Museum visitors have been fascinated by the opportunity to witness the meticulous restoration work firsthand. "We didn't think there were so many hours of work involved, it's really a profession of application and concentration," commented one couple visiting the museum. Another visitor noted, "We had no idea what this work involved, but thanks to exchanges with the conservators, we know much more now."
The museum has scheduled regular interaction sessions between the restorers and the public throughout the restoration project. For Director de Frias, this public approach serves a broader educational purpose. "This is an opportunity to enter behind the scenes of the Fine Arts Museum of Cambrai. We have many jobs in the shadows, unknown to the general public who ultimately don't know what we do in a museum. We want to promote this openness, to show who works here."
The restoration project, made possible through private sponsorship, is expected to take one week to complete, "if there are no unpleasant surprises." Once the "Before the Stone Age" sculpture is fully restored, Zine and Goron will move on to work on other pieces throughout the museum, continuing their mission to preserve the institution's artistic heritage for future generations.
