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STORY: :: Art conservators begin the painstaking process

of restoring Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' masterpiece

:: Amsterdam, Netherlands

:: Taco Dibbits, Rijksmuseum director

“Rembrandt painted with a very clear contrast between light and dark and that had become far less obvious in the painting. So I think that once it’s restored it will have much more depth and the figures in the painting will come to life.” // "The painting will decide the pace so we can’t say well it’s ready in a year or it’s ready in two years. No I think the varnish removal will probably be around a year and then you can really see what the damages are, how we have to restore it in the best way possible and that will take several years."

In the first five-year stage of work, which included researching the delicate process of varnish removal, the 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) by 14.8 feet (4.5 meters) canvas was re-stretched.

The next stage of "Operation Night Watch," the most extensive restoration of the artwork, also will help preserve the painting for future generations and repair any damage.

A tissue impregnated with a very small amount of solvent is placed on the paint surface and the varnish dissolves, said restorer Ige Verslype, showing how the yellowish tint had been removed.

The Rijksmuseum, the most popular gallery in the Netherlands, is visited by more than 2 million people annually.