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The BNP Paribas Foundation and BNP Paribas Canada lend their support to restoring a Chardin masterpiece at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto

Published On 23.02.2010
As part of its program to support the restoration of works in museums, the BNP Paribas Foundation and BNP Paribas (Canada) have decided to lend their support to the restoration of a painting by Jean-Siméon Chardin (1699-1779), one of the masterpieces of the collection housed by the Art Gallery of Ontario (Musée des Beaux-Arts) in Toronto.

The 1758 oval painting, called “Jar of Apricots”, closely resembles another painting, “The Cut Melon”, currently kept in a private collection in Paris. This simple and uncluttered composition, with its objects placed with great precision and depicted using thick brushstrokes and vibrant light, is characteristic of Chardin's art, one of the greatest French artists of the 18th century.

Damaged by time and by treatments undergone during past restorations, the work has a yellowed varnish that alters the transparency of its colours. It also has touch-ups, cracks, and liftings that will be closely analyzed and examined by specialists from the Canadian Conservation Institute before any restoration work begins.



Art Gallery of Ontario – Le Musée des Beaux-Arts de l'Ontario
With a permanent collection of more than 79,000 works of art, the Art Gallery of Ontario is among the most distinguished art museums in North America. In 2008, with a stunning new design by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the AGO opened its doors to the public amid international acclaim. Highlights include Galleria Italia, a gleaming showcase made of wood and glass running the length of an entire city block along the Gallery's façade; and the feature staircase, spiralling up through the roof of Walker Court and into the new contemporary galleries above. From the extensive Group of Seven collection to the dramatic new African art gallery; from David Altmejd's monumental installation The Index to Peter Paul Rubens' masterpiece The Massacre of The Innocents, a highlight of the celebrated Thomson Collection, there is truly something for everyone at the AGO.

About the BNP Paribas Foundation
Under the aegis of the Fondation de France, the BNP Paribas Foundation strives to preserve and publicize the rich holdings of museums, encourage artists and performers in disciplines that are under-supported by corporate sponsorship, and fund medical research programs in cutting-edge industries. The BNP Paribas Foundation also supports education, social integration, and disabled projects. The point of reference in the group in the matter of arts funding, and working closely with its networks in France and abroad, the BNP Paribas Foundation backs each of its programs for its entire duration.
www.mecenat.bnpparibas.com

Regular news on the actions of the BNP Paribas Group and its employees in the area of social responsibility can be found on the website www.forachangingworld.com.

About BNP Paribas (Canada)
In Canada since 1961, BNP Paribas is one of the largest foreign bank subsidiaries operating in Canada. As a member of the BNP Paribas Group and a global leader in banking and financial services, the Bank provides a wide variety of specialized financial services and investment products.
Headquartered in Montreal with a branch in Toronto, BNP Paribas (Canada) combines perfect knowledge of the Canada with international expertise acquired in over 83 countries by the Group's 202,000 employees. Offering custom-tailored financial solutions based on the best techniques of the time, BNP Paribas (Canada) concentrates its activities in the oil, gas, and mining industry; large institutional loan syndication industry; and the large corporation finance industry.