Earlier this year, a beautiful piece of history at The Stevens Estate was carefully packed and sent away for restoration. The 1890s painting, created by German-born American artist David Neal, had suffered the wear and tear of more than a century, its surface dulled by grime, its canvas torn in places, and sections of its ornate frame missing.
The painting is a custom work by Neal, styled in the same manner as his celebrated After the Hunt. To bring it back to life, expert conservator Gianfranco Pocobene and his team cleaned and repaired the painting, revealing colors and details long hidden. They even recreated missing sections of the frame by molding and casting plaster replicas that seamlessly matched the original design. The result is nothing short of breathtaking – the painting has been restored to its original beauty and grandeur.
In October, the artwork returned home. With Maquette Fine Art Services handling the reinstallation, it took an extraordinary team effort to lift and secure this nearly 300-pound masterpiece back on the wall. Their precision and care were as impressive as the restoration itself.
We are thrilled to see this historic painting back in its rightful place, glowing with new life and ready to be admired for generations to come!
