Since its founding in 1901, the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, Ohio, has earned a global reputation for its education programs, its architecturally significant facilities, and the quality of its collections – medieval artwork included.
In fact, the Toledo Museum of Art is home to one of the finest collections of medieval art in North America. As the museum reopened its Cloister Gallery in December 2021, the collection has undergone “extensive conservation and restoration, and several items which had been kept in storage for decades were now being displayed,” as noted by Medievalists.net.
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In addition to a complete reinstallation of most of the items preserved in the medieval collection, the project entailed the comprehensive cleaning of the gallery’s three medieval arcades and Venetian wellhead, removing centuries of accumulated dirt; the conservation of three stained-glass windows and other works of art that have not been on view in the gallery for decades; and an overall renovation of the lighting and security systems.
“The Cloister Gallery is one of the most popular and evocative spaces at TMA and is known nationwide for bringing the Middle Ages to life through its collections and display,” said Adam M. Levine, TMA’s Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey director and CEO. “The reinstallation of this beloved gallery is part of the Museum’s strategic efforts to tell a more accurate and inclusive world history. In so doing, we hope to instill a sense of belonging for all of our visitors,” Levine said, according to the museum’s own website.
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As read in the article published by Medievalists.net, the stained-glass pieces were extremely dirty. The removal of this centuries-old dirt, the note goes, “revealed the rich colors and detailed paintwork hidden underneath.”
