Painting restoration reveals sunlight under decades of grime;

Conservator Barry Bauman donates his services to his local historical society

Conservator Barry Bauman thrives on his love of uncovering the original work of an artist, layer-by-layer. And his ongoing, meticulous cleaning of a landscape by Oak Park native Louis Hovey Sharp has revealed the light-filled landscape of Point Lobos, California, frequented by artists for its breathtaking meeting of land and water.

Bauman, a River Forest resident, donated his services to The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. After selling the firm he founded, the Chicago Conservation Center, Bauman decided to offer complimentary painting conservation services exclusively to museums and non-profits. In the past two years, he has assisted over 60 institutions throughout the country, charging only for his materials.

"Since opening Barry Bauman Conservation, I have had an opportunity to work on many fine historical paintings,” he says. “To date, over 260 have received treatment at no charge including works by Van Dyck, Magnasco, ter Borch, Bouguereau, Twachtman, Gifford, Robinson, and Tanner. This list includes John Singer Sargent, arguably America's finest portrait artist." His clients include the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, the State Historical Society of Iowa, the Phoenix Art Museum, the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and the Indiana State Museum.

Bauman’s earlier firm cleaned and restored two WPA murals that once hung in Oak Park’s Stevenson Playground recreation center for The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. The organization is delighted that Bauman is cleaning and conserving this particular painting, which has hung in its Research Center in recent years. Donated in 1970 by the Cotsworth family, the 25-by-30-inch oil painting by Sharp (1875-1946) was masked by an accumulation of grime and/or smoke that made the scene appear to be dark and somber. Sharp was a notable landscape painter who lived in Pasadena, Calif.; Taos, New Mexico; and the Austrian Tyrol.

“We have so many wonderful treasures in our collection that require our care in perpetuity—photos, artifacts, maps, and artwork like this oil painting,” said Historical Society Executive Director Frank Lipo. “Our goal is to be good stewards of our collection and that can be costly and require special expertise that we do not have on staff or among our volunteers. We are extremely grateful for Mr. Bauman’s generosity and skill.”

The Historical Society is seeking funding for other conservation projects. To learn about opportunities to adopt a project, please call the Historical Society at 708-848-6755.

Bauman served as Associate Conservator of Paintings for the Art Institute of Chicago before establishing the Chicago Conservation Center and is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation. The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest is a not-for-profit organization that operates a Museum, Archives, and Research Center. The restored painting currently hangs in the Research Center of the Historical Society. Visitors can see the painting during regular tour hours: Thursday-Sunday 12:30-3:30 pm (March-November) and Thursday-Sunday 12:30-2:30 (December-February) or by appointment.

Web site created by Marty Hackl m_hackl@ameritech.net

Phone:(708) 848-6755 Email: oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net