Oil Painting Restoration
Damage to oil paintings is often caused by ageing, mishandling or incorrect storing. Restoration includes the cleaning of the artworks, fumigating if there is insect damage, repairing of torn canvas or holes in board, and the touch up of damaged areas to restore the work to its original condition, or to a satisfactory aesthetic state.
In the below gallery, you are able to clearly see the condition of the dirty oil paintings before restoration, as well as what the artwork looks like after the cleaning and restoration process is complete. Although considered by many to be a benign and routine procedure, cleaning ranks among the most dangerous of painting restoration processes in unskilled hands. Over cleaning a painting may also result in removing paint, so the process is extremely scientific.
LADY LOOKING OUT WINDOW - OIL ON CANVAS, EUROPEAN 18TH CENTURY
This painting had severe pigment flaking and loss, and the work had been heavily overpainted and varnished. The restoration process involved first cleaning the painting, to remove the discoloured varnish and all other surface dirt, as well as the overpainted areas. The missing areas were filled to even the canvas area. Finally the painting was touched up and revarnished.
HARBOUR SCENE - OIL ON CANVAS, LATE 19TH CENTURY
This oil painting had discoloured over time, causing the varnish to darken and dull the pigments underneath. In the cleaning process the discoloured varnish was removed, revealing the original bright oil painting underneath.
SEATED GIRL IN RED DRESS - OIL ON CANVAS, 1960's
This artwork had been rolled up and incorrectly stored for a number of years, which resulted in tears, holes and cracking of the pigments, causing the pigment to flake off in places. This painting had to be relined onto a new canvas, and stretched onto a wooden frame. All the damaged areas were filled and touched up.
THE LADY IN WHITE - OIL ON CANVAS, 18TH CENTURY
This painting was badly torn on the right side, with water damge on the bottom half of the painting, causing severe pigment flaking. The restoration process involved first cleaning the painting, to remove the discoloured varnish and all other surface dirt. The tears were then mended and all the missing areas were filled to even the canvas area. Finally the painting was touched up and revarnished.
More before and after photographs, showing Ernests' capabilities in the restoration of oil paintings. Damage was caused by canvas tearing, water, insects and ageing.
