The paintings Neptune and The abduction of Proserpina, created by the renowned Italian artist Luca Giordano (1634-1705), have returned to Gran Canaria after nearly eight months of restoration work at the Institute of Cultural Heritage of Spain (IPCE) in Madrid. These large-scale works, owned by the Government of the Canary Islands, will be incorporated into the permanent exhibition of the MUBEA Gran Canaria Museo de Bellas Artes, which is scheduled to open its doors at the end of the year.
The restoration aimed to recover the stability and artistic elements of the paintings' pictorial layer. The works will remain under the custody of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria's Museum Service as a deposit. From December, the public will have the opportunity to view both paintings and learn about the results of the restoration efforts.
The restoration was overseen by Abraham Reina de la Torre, head of the restoration company Aqqerva, which was awarded the contract by the Ministry of Culture and Sport. The paintings were transported to Madrid at the end of March and have now returned following interventions that restored significant elements of the pictorial layer and improved the stability and consolidation of the supports and frames.
Preliminary studies identified alterations in the pictorial surfaces, particularly in The abduction of Proserpina, which had suffered damage due to water infiltration. Its frame also displayed defects. The restoration addressed these issues and enhanced the conservation conditions of both works, which are considered of special interest to the artistic heritage of the Canary Islands.
Both paintings depict scenes from Greco-Roman mythology. In Neptune (1695-1700), the sea god is portrayed alongside other mythological figures in a monumental composition characterised by movement and expressiveness. Meanwhile, The abduction of Proserpina illustrates the moment when Pluto, the god of the underworld, abducts Ceres' daughter to take her to his realm. Giordano's ability to create dynamic scenes with complex compositions and a strong emphasis on human figures and colour is evident in both works.
Born in Naples in 1634, Luca Giordano was one of the most prolific painters of the European Baroque period. He worked in Spain from 1692 to 1702 under the patronage of Charles II, producing significant works for locations such as the Monastery of El Escorial. His style is noted for its rich colour palette, fluid execution, and monumental compositions, covering a wide range of religious, historical, and mythological themes.
The two paintings are part of a collection that became the property of the Government of the Canary Islands in 2021. Since then, they have been housed at the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, which will now include them in the exhibits of its new fine arts museum. The MUBEA Gran Canaria Museo de Bellas Artes is located in the building of the former Hospital de San Martín in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, now transformed into a cultural facility for the island. The addition of Giordano's works will enrich the museum's permanent collection and provide the public with access to two examples of European Baroque painting linked to the artistic heritage of the Canary Islands.
