Newcastle Museum conserves historic 1953 mural by Lo Schiavo
Virgil Lo Schiavo's 1953 mural Industry is being cleaned and analysed at Newcastle Museum.
Newcastle Museum has taken down Virgil Lo Schiavo's Industry mural for deep cleaning and analysis. The 1953 work originally hung in a bank, then a school, before the museum got it.
The mural has 10 figures, all based on Lo Schiavo himself, representing coal miners, steel makers, shipbuilders and other workers who built Newcastle. Museum staff did the conservation work themselves for the first time.
This means they can care for it long-term without waiting for grant money. Lo Schiavo won the Sulman Prize in 1945 and painted major murals for the University of Sydney.
Experts will advise on any other work the mural needs. Museum visitors got a rare close look at the mural while the work was happening.
- Virgil Lo Schiavo, Italian-born Australian
- Artist
- 1953
- Year painted
- 10, all modelled on Lo Schiavo himself
- Figures in mural
- Won by Lo Schiavo in 1945
- Sulman Prize
Why it mattersIn-house conservation means the museum can protect important pieces of Newcastle's cultural heritage long-term without waiting for grant money.
AustraliaNewcastle residents and visitors can continue enjoying this iconic piece of local art history after professional preservation.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 4 h ago
