From Ottawa to Philadelphia: How Van Gogh's Iris travels

Before the National Gallery of Canada's 2012 summer exhibition Van Gogh: Up Close could open in Ottawa it first had to open in our partner institution, The Philadelphia Museum of Art. This meant Van Gogh's Iris, a key work for the exhibition's central thesis and a greatly valued painting in the National Gallery's collection, had to travel down to Philadelphia. 

But how does a priceless painting make it from our gallery to theirs? How is it prepared for travel? How is it packaged, transported, and cared for along the way? For a behind the scenes look at how this journey was completed, watch this short film.