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Conservation of an 18th century Botanical Painting on Parchment
January 6, 2023 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
What: A “First Friday” Presentation by Jenni Krchak
When: Friday, January 6, 2023 at 10:30AM
Where: The Larkins Classroom at Mobile Botanical Gardens
Cost: FREE to MBG Members, regular admission for nonmembers
Email acashin@mbgardens.org or call the office at 251.342.0555 to register.
A collection from France’s Golden Age of botanical illustration, the conservation of a beautiful gouache painting on parchment, treatment challenges, and a fascinating discovery about the plants depicted – This presentation will focus on the research and treatment of a painting from one of the unique collections in the vaults of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, which was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743 and is considered the oldest learned society in the country. The botanical painting comes from the Duhamel du Monceau and Fougeroux de Bondaroy papers, a collection of paper dating from 1716 – 1789, which encompass everything from botanical illustrations and unpublished book plates to agricultural essays and notes and drafts for Duhamel’s famous Traité des Arbres et Arbustres. Duhamel du Monceau was considered one of the greatest botanists of the 18th century and was also an agronomist, maritime engineer, and encyclopedist.
Jenni Krchak is a second year Graduate Fellow specializing in the conservation of works on paper at the Garman Art Conservation Department at SUNY Buffalo State (Class of 2024) where she will receive dual M.A./M.S. degrees. She holds a B.A. in Art History with minors in Studio Art and Chemistry from the University of South Alabama in her hometown of Mobile, AL. Prior to her graduate studies, she worked as the outreach coordinator at the Mobile Botanical Gardens and as a book designer for Negative Capability Press. She completed pre-program internships including hurricane recovery work at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, wall painting conservation at a medieval church in Wiltshire, England, and book and paper conservation at the Georgia Archives. This past summer she completed a two-month placement at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. Jenni is also an avid baker and proud keeper of her spoiled and well-traveled cat, Lucy.