Conservators Examine Gettysburg Cyclorama Painting
September

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Painting conservators conducted a weeklong examination of the Gettysburg cyclorama painting in early September.

According to officials at Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP), a consortium of painting and mural conservation experts, including Perry Huston & Associates Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas, and Olin Conservation Inc. of Great Falls, Va., conducted the assessment.

Their past projects include mural conservation at the U.S. National Archives, the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, and the Department of Interior headquarters, Washington D.C., as well as large-painting conservation at the Pennsylvania Historical Museum and at Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park.

According to a park press release, the conservators are under contract with the Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum Foundation, a non-profit partner of the National Park Service, which will fund, design, construct, and operate a new museum and visitor center for Gettysburg NMP. As part of the partnership project, the Museum Foundation is undertaking the conservation of the 1884 cyclorama painting, “The Battle of Gettysburg,” by Paul Dominique Philippoteaux and its reinstallation with a new mounting system in the new museum.

The examination will result in a conditions assessment and treatment plan, which is an assessment of the problems that will need to be addressed during conservation of the painting. Actual conservation of the painting and supervision of its reinstallation in the new facility will be included a separate phase of the project.

The Gettysburg cyclorama painting measures 356 feet in circumference and is 26 feet in height. It has been designated a National Historic Object. The painting depicts Pickett's Charge at the height of the battle on July 3, 1863.

It is exhibited in a building that park officials say lacks proper humidity and environmental controls so that unstable temperature and humidity levels are causing damage to the painting. The painting is improperly hung, causing additional stress and damage to the canvas, according to park officials. Because of limited space, the painting cannot be properly preserved and displayed within the existing building. Treatment and conservation costs are estimated at a minimum of $5 million.

Congress approved $2.5 million for the restoration. The park's new General Management Plan includes razing the Cyclorama Center building.