Kelsey Museum receives grant

The Kelsey Museum has received a federal grant to help finance the preservation of a series of dramatic paintings in its permanent collection.

The paintings depict a famous fresco cycle at the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii, Italy.

The $160,000 Conservation Project Support grant, announced by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, aims to prevent the loss of irreplaceable artifacts and improve conservation of collections in the nation's museums.

The 22 large-scale watercolor paintings, created in 1925-27 by Italian artist Maria Barosso, are among nearly 100,000 objects in the Kelsey Museum's collection, which includes artifacts from civilizations spanning the ancient Mediterranean.

Barosso's renderings depict wall paintings at the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii that relate to the cult of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, inspiration and ecstasy.

"The watercolors are one of the highlights of our collection, and this conservation project will ensure their preservation and allow us to provide greater access to these unique paintings," says Suzanne Davis, curator of conservation at the museum.

The Kelsey Museum is one of 34 museums selected for a total of $2.72 million in grants. Recipients are required to match the grant with non-federal funds. In accepting the grant, the Kelsey Museum must come up with an additional $160,000.

In August the Kelsey Museum closed its public galleries for renovations and expansions. The museum, including the newly constructed Upjohn Wing, will reopen next year.

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