Conservators at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum have successfully identified the original 17th-century upholstery for a set of 14 chairs in the Dutch Room, the site of the infamous 1990 art heist. Using a combination of AI colorization software called Palette and the discovery of a single faded thread, the team determined that the chairs were originally vibrant red with pink stripes, rather than the fabric used in a 1970s restoration. This discovery is part of a comprehensive three-year project to restore the room to the founder's original vision.
This restoration matters because it highlights the increasing role of technology, specifically AI, in forensic art conservation and historical accuracy. While the museum remains defined in the public consciousness by its missing masterpieces, this project demonstrates a commitment to institutional stewardship and the meticulous preservation of the decorative arts environment Isabella Stewart Gardner curated. The project aims for completion by 2027, maintaining the empty frames in anticipation of the stolen works' eventual return.