Sarjeant treasure takes flight

Movers take the massive painting from where it has hung for almost a century.

It was an early start for some Sarjeant Gallery staff, builder Simon Penn and Crown Relocation staff last week as they moved one of the largest works from the gallery's collection out of the Queenspark building.

The Flight into Egypt - painted in 1884 by English artist Frederick Goodall was to travel to Auckland where it will ondergo repairs at the Auckland Art Gallery's conservation unit and it was a 5.30am start for the movers on Tuesday morning.

Curator of collections Jennifer Taylor Moore says restoration work will take up to two years to complete and could not have been undertaken without A generous grant from a New Zealand trust.

The Stout Trust grant of nearly $125,000 will go towards restoring The Flight into Egypt and a large original frame of a pastel drawing The Fountain of Youth by another English artist Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones in 1892.

The works are collectively valued at well over a million dollars.

The Stout Trust was set up with the proceeds of the J D Stout Charitable Estate to contribute to New Zealand's cultural, environmental and scientific heritage.

Ms Taylor Moore said the timing of the grant means the paintings should be ready to hang in the re-developed Sarjeant Gallery complex on the original Pukenamu Queen's Park site.

The 97-year-old Sarjeant Gallery heritage building is currently unoccupied awaiting earthquake strengthening and restoration as part of a proposed $34.9 million dollar redevelopment that includes construction of a new wing and storage facility.

She said the 4 metre wide by 2.6 metre high The Flight into Egypt painting recently hung in a rear stairwell in the historic gallery.

"Due to its considerable size and weight the painting remained on permanent display at the Sarjeant Gallery for 96 years and is now in dire need of conservation treatment," she said.
Ms Taylor Moore said the treatment will consolidate cracking and lifting paint over a third of the painting and fill any paint losses, vastly improving its appearance and condition.

She said staff at the Auckland Art Gallery Conservation Unit are among the most experienced and highly qualified conservators in the country with considerable experience in treating large scale works.

The ornate frame has gone to Manawatu for restoration by wood conservation specialist and managing director of Manawatu Museum Services Detlef Klein.

The intricate task of restoring the frame to its former glory is expected to take up to two years.

The work includes repairs to gilded decoration that is lifting off and restoration of gold leaf gilding.

Ms Taylor Moore says the frame is unique in New Zealand and was designed specifically for the painting with Egyptian references and lotus flower designs.