Tintoretto's Paradise among 20 artworks earmarked for restoration

Restoration plans for Tintoretto's 1588 painting Il Paradiso (paradise) and 19 other artworks and artefacts were announced last night at an event at London’s Courtauld Gallery.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is once again funding the safeguarding of paintings, sculptures and objects with important cultural and historical value via its Art Conservation Project. The bank, which recently sponsored exhibitions including the V&A’s The Cult of Beauty, supports 5,000 arts organisations around the world as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

This is the second year the bank has run the project. Guests at the Courtauld Gallery were given a preview of the newly restored Rubens painting ‘Cain Slaying Abel’ which was among those previously chosen for the project, and which has been painstakingly returned to former glory at the Courtauld over the past year.

“In these economically challenged times, and as art conservation consumes ever greater portions of tightened museum budgets, the need for private arts funding has become even more critical,” Rena DeSisto, global arts and culture executive at the bank, said.

Paintings by Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Chagall, drawings by Da Vinci and Diego Rivera, plus artefacts from as early as the 7th century B.C, are among the selections.

Click here or on “View Gallery” to see the artworks chosen for restoration