The Iris

About: Erik Risser and David Saunders

Erik Risser I’m assistant conservator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum, conservator of the bronze statue of Apollo from Pompeii, and co-curator of the exhibition Apollo from Pompeii: Investigating an Ancient Bronze. Past shows I’ve been involved with include Reconstructing Identity: A Statue of a God from Dresden and The Hope Hygieia: Restoring a Statue's History, which reflect my ongoing interest in the restoration history of large-scale marble stone sculptures and its impact on their conservation. Aside from museum-related activities, one of my pursuits is in further developing conservation practices in the field for both architectural remains and excavated materials. David Saunders I’m assistant curator in the Department of Antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum and co-curator of Apollo from Pompeii: Investigating an Ancient Bronze. In 2009 I curated The Golden Graves of Ancient Vani at the Getty Villa. I'm currently developing exhibitions on Aphrodite and on a group of large South Italian vases that were restored in the 19th century. Exhibitions aside, my main research interests lie with ancient Greek vase-painting and iconography.

Posts by Erik Risser and

Posted in Antiquities, Behind the Scenes, Conservation, Exhibitions and Installations, Getty Villa, J. Paul Getty Museum

Apollo’s Drapery: An Unfolding Puzzle

By Erik Risser and David Saunders | Published: March 1, 2011
Antiquities conservator Erik Risser working on the Apollo’s drapery in the Conservation Studio at the Getty Villa

A new exhibition opening at the Getty Villa, Apollo from Pompeii: Investigating an Ancient Bronze, marks the completion of an 18-month conservation project that developed in collaboration with the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples. The exhibition presents the different aspects… More»

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 10 Responses

  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Tumblr

    • photo from Tumblr

      dominusvenustas:

      Andrea del Sarto, Various studies, c.1520’s

      Son of a tailor (sarto). Andrea became one of the best loved artists of Florence. Vasari had good things to say about him.

      …Andrea del Sarto, in whose single person Nature and art showed all that painting can achieve by means of drawing, colouring and invention: and indeed if Andrea had possessed a little more boldness and daring of spirit, to match his very profound judgement and talent as a painter, he would, there is no doubt at all, have been without equal. 

      Browning wrote poems about him:

      Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,
      Or what’s a heaven for?

      His drawings are natural, graceful and sensitive, an excellent draughtsman.

      …and he was very much in love with his wife… (something we don’t often hear about Renaissance artists!)

      Our curator Julian Brooks is in Florence now researching del Sarto for an exhibition in 2015.


      05/22/13

  • Flickr