Let’s Look at The Night Watch's New Stretcher!

After an extensive 2.5 years of in-depth research, the treatment of The Night Watch finally began in January 2022. One of the campaigns was to change the heavy wooden stretcher into a lightweight and self-tensioning aluminum system. I recently had the privilege of attending a captivating workshop led by the designer of this new system, Antonio Iaccarino Idelson. This workshop was designed to impart both theoretical and practical knowledge on the tensioning of canvas paintings.

Theoretical Insights

The morning session was a deep dive into the historical evolution of canvas tensioning systems, stretching from their origins to early elastic systems. Antonio, drawing on his extensive research, provided profound insights into the mechanical behavior of canvas paintings. The discussion included a special focus on modern elastic tensioning systems, featuring examples and historical case studies, such as The Night Watch. Antonio guided us through the decision-making process behind selecting tension values for specific paintings.

To wrap up the theoretical session, Antonio took on a tour in the Rijksmuseum, where we were invited to step into the glass box in which The Night Watch sat. It was such a privilege to step up close and observe this masterpiece and its new tensioning system.

Practical Applications

The afternoon session brought theory to life as we engaged in hands-on experiences. We stretched canvas paintings (mock-ups) using various elastic tensioning systems, learning practical skills and gaining insights into evaluating tension applied to canvas paintings. The session also included the observation and discussion of selected paintings, providing real-world context to the theoretical insights gained earlier in the day.