Recent Projects

Classical Figures, artist and date unknown (Italian, 19th Century), owned by a private client.

The painting had been badly damaged by water. As a result there was extensice flaking in the paint layer due to shrinkage of the canvas, In addition, there were several large, complex tears throughout. The painting was unvarnished, but had accumulated a thick deposit of dirt.

Before treatment, front                                                                           Before treatment, reverse

Treatment involved the following:

• The flaking paint was consolidated with an organic adhesive.
• The tears in the textile support were flattened with oisture and weights.
• Insets (comprised of addition pieces of canvas) were prepared and adhered to the canvas in the areas of loss.
• The surface dirt was cleaned with aqueous solutions.
• Distortions in the support were removed by prestretching the painting over several weeks.
• the painting was lined (adhered) onto a second canvas with a synthetic adhesive (Beva 371).
• the painting was attached to a new stretcher and keyed-out to ensure an even tension. the keys were tied to the stretcher to prevent them from falling out.
• The losses in the paint layer were filled with a chalk-based filler, and retouched with hand-made paints (consisting of dry pigments bound in a synthetic resin).
• The surface was sprayed with several layers of varnish to protect the paint layers and to increase the intensity of the colours.
• The painting was reframed to conservation standards.

During treatment, reverse (after tear repair)                                         During treatment, front (after filling of losses)

Last revised  20.05.2007                                                                                                Content  © 2007  Gillian M H Walker