Up close: 'Madonna of the Rose Bower' restoration

"Madonna of the Rose Bower," a well-known late Gothic masterpiece by the Alsatian artist Martin Schongauer, dates back to 1473. The restoration at the Dominican Church in Colmar, eastern France, is being carried out in preparation for a four-month exhibition of the wooden altar panel painting at the Louvre in Paris.

What makes this restoration special is that it's taking place in full view of the public, allowing visitors to look over the shoulder of restorer Julie Sutter at any time and experience this rare event up close.

During Sutter's examination of the painting, done using various methods such as UV light, microscopy or pigment analysis, several problems became apparent. Small layers of paint had come away, there were a few fragile areas and there was a gray, dull veil on the varnish, a transparent protective layer that protects the colors of the work and enhances their effect.

In late medieval paintings such as "Madonna of the Rose Bower," the layers of paint can be very thin, which is why a high degree of knowledge and sensitivity is required. Sutter is an experienced restorer who has already worked on important works of art, including the world-famous Isenheim Altarpiece and other historical altarpieces.

Visitors rarely get to see the altarpiece up close, as it's usually installed and protected on the wall in the choir of the Dominican Church.

Restorer Sutter analyzes and documents the condition of the painting on her laptop, so that each step of the process can be precisely planned and recorded.

Fine brushes of various sizes, spatulas and a scalpel lie ready on Sutter's worktable in the church. With these precise tools, she carefully examines and treats the delicate surface of the over 500-year-old painting so it will be ready in time for the exhibition at the Louvre beginning in April.