Norwich painting back on display and set to be part of major international exhibition

The re-gilding work on The Paston Treasure picture (Image: Picture: Supplied)

The Paston Treasure, which is one of Norwich Castle's most important and popular paintings, will also soon be part of a major international exhibition aiming to bring together as many of the Paston treasures as possible.

Painted at Oxnead Hall in about 1670, by an unknown Dutch artist The Paston Treasure depicts treasures collected by the famous Paston family. These objects are now dispersed around the world, but the painting has remained in Norfolk and is one of the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery's most famous paintings.

Six years ago, Norfolk Museums Service raised money to have the painting cleaned and conserved. But a fresh campaign was launched in December to re-gild the frame. That saw more than £14,500 from 190 donors via the Art Fund's Art Happens crowdfunding website, whereby members of the public each pledged amounts to help.

The re-gilding work was carried out by Michael Hilliard of Perceval Designs based in Suffolk and marks culmination of first ever crowdfunding campaign by Norfolk Museums Service.

The re-gilding work on The Paston Treasure picture (Image: Picture: Supplied)

Dr Francesca Vanke, keeper of art at Norwich Castle, who spearheaded the project, said: 'We are delighted with the enthusiasm of peoples' response to our campaign, and I do hope that those who've given so generously to the project will feel a real sense of ownership of the painting and will come and view it in all its splendour, both now and during the exhibition in three years' time.'

Norfolk Museums' staff are now planning, in partnership with the Yale Centre for British Art in the USA, an exhibition in 2018 which will bring together as many of the Paston family's treasures as possible, and reunite them with the picture for the first time in 350 years.