Live Conservation: Conserving an Altarpiece Sculpture at the MFA

The conservation of art—preserving objects through specialized, professional care—is a cornerstone of the museum’s mission. This focused exhibition highlights the meticulous conservation of a gilded, painted, and carved altarpiece sculpture, an extraordinary new addition to the collection.

Altarpieces, whether painted panels or sculptural ensembles, have been central to Christian worship since the Middle Ages. This particular piece, depicting the Epiphany—the visit of the three kings to the Christ child—likely originated from a German or Flemish altarpiece. Despite its remarkable survival, centuries of woodworm damage, daily use, and environmental changes have taken their toll.

Over the coming weeks, renowned objects conservator Luis Seixas will carefully clean, consolidate, and restore this delicate sculpture, along with other treasures from the museum’s collection. Visitors are invited to observe the conservation process live in the galleries and even engage with Mr. Seixas to learn more about this fascinating work.