Jelgava restorer: we 'treat' objects to preserve their original appearance
Saiva Kuple, head of the Zemgale Restoration Centre at the Jelgava Ģederts Eliass History and Art Museum, describes the restorer's profession as one that combines art, history and even medicine. She received Hungary's Silver Cross of Merit in 2024 for restoring a large 19th-century painting.
The Zemgale Restoration Centre operates within the Jelgava Ģederts Eliass History and Art Museum, led by restorer Saiva Kuple. She stresses that restoration is a complex and responsible profession that should not be reduced to simple repair skills.
Training and specializations
Two Latvian institutions train restorers: the Art Academy of Latvia offers a bachelor's programme in painting restoration, while Riga Technical College of Construction teaches furniture, stone and polychrome wood restoration. Other fields, such as textile or ceramics restoration, must currently be learned independently in Latvia, since no institution teaches them formally. Kuple herself earned a master's degree in painting restoration from the Art Academy and later added polychrome wood restoration skills through her professional work. The Zemgale Restoration Centre employs four restorers, specializing respectively in textiles, metal, ceramics and glass, and paintings.
Code of ethics and working principles
Restorers follow a strict code of ethics that forbids "improving" an object's appearance based on personal taste. The original artwork is the highest value, and every intervention must be evidence-based. When parts of a painting are missing, a restorer first researches historical records before reconstructing lost sections in a way that remains clearly distinguishable from the original. Large-scale objects, such as buildings or ruins like the medieval castle ruins in Cēsis, can require ongoing, years-long maintenance.
Ten years on a single painting
One of Kuple's biggest professional challenges was a ten-year restoration of a large painting held by the Jelgava museum — "The Battle of Világos" by Lithuanian-Polish artist Vincentas Smakauskas, created in the mid-19th century and depicting an episode from Hungary's 1848 independence struggle. In 2024, she received Hungary's Silver Cross of Merit for the restoration and related research.
Similarities with medicine
Kuple compares restoration work to medicine — restorers first investigate the cause of damage, then choose an appropriate "therapy," sometimes even using dental materials. Unlike patients, however, the objects being restored cannot express pain, making ethical conduct especially important.
The centre is preparing to mark its fifth anniversary with an exhibition and seminar aimed at educating the public about restoration. Alongside caring for the museum's own collection, the centre also offers paid restoration services to private individuals.
