El Greco Restoration | Arts Upload

When I walk through an art gallery or museum, I seldom think about the flaws that might be lurking in the pieces or the paintings, but when your collection contains works that are hundreds or thousands of years old, a little repair work often needs to be done. As a matter of fact, the Conservation Department at the Nelson-Atkins Museum recently faced an interesting challenge. Restoration expert Scott Heffley took on the task of making a certain Old Masters painting look a little fresher before it went to Spain for an exhibition commemorating El Greco 400 years after his death. KCPT’s Mike Murphy spent hours documenting Scott’s delicate touch on the Penitent Magdalene and producer Ashley Holcroft has edited the footage for your viewing pleasure.