Belgian collector lends rare René Magritte work to Israel Museum during painting restoration

An anonymous Belgian collector has lent a rare 1962 gouache by René Magritte to the Israel Museum. This loan occurred while Magritte's iconic 1959 oil painting, "The Castle of the Pyrenees," undergoes restoration after a five-year-old boy accidentally caused a small tear in the canvas two months ago. The gouache, another version of the floating castle image, will be displayed until the original oil painting's conservation is complete. Israel Museum director Prof. Yasha Jacob Grobman stated, "The generous gesture allows our visitors to encounter one of the most important artists of the 20th century while his iconic original work receives comprehensive treatment." Visitors can observe the restoration process in the museum's open conservation laboratory.