Top 10 Worst Art Restorations in History

Art restoration is a delicate and intricate process that requires skill, expertise, and a deep understanding of the artist’s original vision. However, not all restoration attempts end successfully. In this article, we explore the 10 worst art restorations in history, where good intentions turned into infamous blunders that left masterpieces forever altered.

1. The Buddha of Bamiyan (Afghanistan)

After the Taliban destroyed these ancient statues, restoration efforts attempted to piece together fragments but often lacked the resources and expertise to restore their original grandeur. Some attempts ended up looking more like rudimentary models than historical treasures.

2. The Last Supper (1955)

Italian artist Giorgio Vasari attempted to clean Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, but ended up removing significant portions of the original paint. The restoration’s aggressive nature left behind a faded version that sparked controversy and criticism.

3. The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist (Leonardo da Vinci)

In the early 2000s, a controversial restoration of this da Vinci masterpiece left art critics fuming. Over-cleaning was blamed for the vibrant but unnatural colours that emerged, dramatically altering the soft, delicate tones of Leonardo€™s original work.

4. The Pieta (1972)

In an act of vandalism, Laszlo Toth attacked Michelangelo’s Pieta in St. Peter’s Basilica with a hammer, causing considerable damage to the Virgin Mary’s nose and other parts. The subsequent restoration faced challenges in replicating Michelangelo’s delicate touch.

5. The Sistine Chapel Ceiling (1980)

Attempts to clean Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes in the Sistine Chapel resulted in the removal of centuries-old grime. However, the abrasive cleaning process also stripped away parts of the original paint, leading to debates about the restoration’s overall impact.

6. Saint George Statue (Estella, Spain)

This wooden statue of Saint George suffered an overly enthusiastic repainting by a local craftsman. The vivid, toy-like colors made it look more like a character from a Disney movie than a centuries-old religious relic.

7. The Immaculate Conception (2018)

A restoration attempt on Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s Immaculate Conception in Spain resulted in an overly bright and excessively cleaned appearance. The restoration’s heavy-handed approach drew criticism for erasing the subtle nuances of the original masterpiece.

8. The Sleeping Mars (1995)

The restoration of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s Sleeping Mars faced challenges when reconstructing missing parts of the painting. The resulting awkward additions detracted from the artist’s original composition, leading to disappointment among art enthusiasts.

9. The Queen’s House Portrait (2016)

An attempt to restore the 17th-century portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria in London led to the alteration of her facial features. The well-intentioned restoration inadvertently transformed the queen’s appearance, raising concerns about preserving historical accuracy.

10. The Ghent Altarpiece (Belgium)

Jan van Eyck’s 15th-century masterpiece has suffered from multiple ill-advised restorations. The most controversial? The Lamb of God’s face was made unnervingly human-like, prompting backlash from both the public and art experts.