Highest resolution photo - GIF

The world's highest resolution photo, a 717-gigapixel capture of Rembrandt's The Night Watch.

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Previously:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...767#post206328
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...043#post140938
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...964#post160387
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...907#post171518
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...411#post192759

All kinds of interesting background on this painting. Wanted to find dimensions, it's basically life size at 363 x 437 centimetres or 12' x 14-1⁄2', lending a lot of perspective. Struck by the detail shown at 1'35", distinct lettering on the plaque, not just scribbled representations. Time invested, 3 years!
Nice find, Altair.

google https://www.google.com/search?client...&bih=719&dpr=1
wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Watch

The Night Watch was a good choice for an ultra high resolution photo. You can really see why the Dutch Golden Age is thought by many to be the peak of painting. Artists were considered more like craftsmen, and people across all social classes had paintings in their homes. Compare with the culturally detached abstraction that constitutes modern day art. Simon Schama's book The Embarrassment of Riches does a good job documenting this era.

The Rijksmuseum actually livestreamed its restoration a few years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZd1sJKOZPc

More here: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/live-u...on-night-watch

I think I just won a Van Gough print from an auction tonight, obviously would much rather have the painting but there are some things that will never be in my budget

There is a James Bama oil painting that, even if I could afford, I doubt the Smithsonian would part with. I will probably end up just getting it printed on canvas via Amazon.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...g_fullsize.jpg

https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...an_wyoming.jpg

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Originally Posted by Jon

There is a James Bama oil painting that, even if I could afford, I doubt the Smithsonian would part with. I will probably end up just getting it printed on canvas via Amazon.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...g_fullsize.jpg

https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...an_wyoming.jpg

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In my opinion there is nothing wrong with a print or even a photo of an artist's work, I don't even have a problem with painted copies as long as the copy is not being touted as an original then it becomes a forger's attempt of fraud. If a painter recreates another's work in as exacting duplication as possible right down to making their own pigment as the originator had done ages the painting to match the original, then they should put a note with their own signature to the effect of it being a reproduction to the best of their abilities of the originator. Many of us will never be fortunate enough to see the works of most of the famous artist of history but we could be fortunate enough to view or possibly even own their works in reproductions, thereby allowing more to see the them

Restoration of a different 1617 painting.

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Originally Posted by Jon

Restoration of a different 1617 painting.

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Not sure how I feel about doing a restoration in this manor. On the one hand if done carefully the painting can be restored back to the way it was when the master painted it. but on the other hand, the centuries of natural patina is destroyed. Cleaning is one thing but removing natural patina in my way of thinking would devalue the painting.

Not uncommon to clean a painting and find a 'lost' artwork underneath.
Concern about patina is true, but centuries of grime ruining true to life skin tones.....
Different bits of antiquity have wildly varied standards on preservation and restoration. Many people associate everything "old" with expensive but it's erroneous. Books might be the best and most common example.

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Originally Posted by Frank S

Not sure how I feel about doing a restoration in this manor. On the one hand if done carefully the painting can be restored back to the way it was when the master painted it. but on the other hand, the centuries of natural patina is destroyed. Cleaning is one thing but removing natural patina in my way of thinking would devalue the painting.

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What they are removing isn't patina - it's dirt, grime, wax. Oil paints do not oxidize like metals, woods or even stains.

Neil

Wow, that made a huge difference, kinda night and day.

I read some information some time ago about this type of painting restoration. What they are removing is a protective layer that is put on oil paintings to seal them. Over time, that protective layer is patina'd with dirt and grime. It is meant to be removed in order to clean the painting, then they will re-apply that protective layer after all of the cleaning is done.
This protective layer is supposed to be put on every oil painting after the paint has properly set. Not sure if that actually happens for every painting though.
It's fascinating to watch the cleaning for a short period of time, but I can't imagine actually doing a whole painting... I don't have quite that kind of patience anymore.

What is the solvent they are using to remove the varnish layer?

What is that magic "goop" he is using in the restoration?

(I had very brief thoughts of getting a jar for wifey, but I think the attempt at humor would surely be lost - along with any remaining years or my life!)

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Originally Posted by JoeVanGeaux

What is that magic "goop" he is using in the restoration?

(I had very brief thoughts of getting a jar for wifey, but I think the attempt at humor would surely be lost - along with any remaining years or my life!)

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According to a reliable source, there are cases after surgeons performed a facelift, when they saw what was underneath, they let it back down. Any care to guess the reliable source?

When you think how many decades or centuries of wood burning fireplace heated homes those works could have hung in, it seems removing the unintended creosoot sludge would be welcomed. I would think there would still be some patina left even after removing that as the paint's age isn't affected.