Haitian art works affected by quake

Two months after a devastating earthquake jolted Haiti, recovery work continues in the Caribbean nation. One island entrepreneur is assessing the damage to his huge local art collection.

A lifetime's worth of collection efforts ... devastated in an instant.

Half of these 12,000 works of art are damaged. The losses are estimated at 20 million US dollars.

Georges Nader built up the impressive range of pieces at his museum on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. From the 1960s to the 1990s, he was one of the country's leading Haitian art dealers.

"My father started in 1966, and he has been collecting Haitian art for more than 40 years ... That's his whole life," said John Nader, son of Georges Nader.

Of the 6,000 paintings left, at least half need to be restored.

10 canvasses have been refurbished so far. But at this rate, it could take up to 45 years to repair all of the damage.

"With damage, it will take years to repair. Some paintings are from the masters, from the 40s, the 50s, it will take a long time to repair, to restore them," said John Nader.

Among the treasures lost are 28 paintings by prominent Haitian artist Bernard Sejourne.

Three pieces by Hyppolite Hector, the central figure in the local art scene, have been recovered. But all are in dire need of the sharp attention of professional restorers.