Abstract
The Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg is preparing a catalogue of its French eighteenth-century paintings, which were collected by Frederick II. Particular emphasis is being put on the history of the collection, its presentation and restoration. Later changes and restoration of the paintings are of special interest and are being analysed by art historians, conservators, and scientists as a central part of the works' history and perception. In this paper two examples are presented where this inter-disciplinary approach has led to interesting results. The paintings The Dance in a Pavilion and The Moulinet by Nicolas Lancret were not – as has always been assumed – painted as a pair of pendants. The appearance of Antoine Watteau's The Shop-sign of Gersaint has also undergone changes. The painting was first made to be a plafond, its shape dictated by architectural conditions. Later, it was transformed into a common rectangular shape and cut into two pieces, serving the taste of art dealers and collectors.
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