Helmut Ruhemann

Personal

Vocation

Lifestyle

Notable

German painting conservator and restorer, considered the preeminent master of his profession during his lifetime. Ruhemann is especially noted for the copious notes, detailed letters exchanged with other art historians, and many photographs he kept from his restorative undertakings, all of which greatly broaden our understanding of art historical thinking and conservation in the early to mid 20th century. He studied at Karlsruhe, Munich and Paris. He was instrumental both in the promotion and utilisation of x-ray as an art historical tool and was progressive in his efforts to clean old master paintings in a faithful manner that did not impede on original brushstrokes or outlines. One of his most celebrated restorations is that of Rogier van der Weyden's Saint Luke Drawing the Virgin, a task he undertook with extreme caution, as it pitted him against such luminaries as Max J. Friedlander, who he faced down in his approach, but whom in the end were complimentary towards him. He left Germany for England in 1933 following a depreciating political climate. He worked as restorer for the National Gallery, London from 1934, and spent part of the war in Wales and at the Tate Gallery from 1939. He died on 3 May 1973, aged 81. Link to Wikipedia biography