Leach Botanical Garden

The Back 5 Collaborative Restoration Project

Funding from the Schwemm Family Foundation supported the preservation and restoration of two rare 1864 oil paintings by Solomon Carvalho, among the oldest surviving works of their kind in California. Displayed for more than a century, the paintings had sustained significant flood, fire, and preservation-related damage and were in critical condition. The museum engaged Fine Arts Conservation Laboratories, Inc. to complete a full restoration, addressing structural damage and restoring original color and detail. The conserved works now reveal previously obscured textures and imagery, preserving an important visual record of early California history. With more than 10,000 annual visitors—including 5,000 schoolchildren—the restored paintings will continue to serve as a vital educational and cultural resource for generations to come.