A cherished still life before treatment.
We received this striking still life from 1960 in need of conservation. The artist applied the oil paint to a primed canvas using a paintbrush and pallet knife. The technique created a heavy, textured impasto surface. The paint was mixed on the surface during the application, creating a combination of subtle and stark variations of color and texture throughout.
The painting arrived with a heavy layer of accumulated grime on the surface. There were two areas of paint loss in the oranges, with related areas of flaking and instability.
The treatment and the results.
The canvas verso was carefully cleaned to remove accumulated dust, and debris was removed from the lower stretcher. The canvas tension was adjusted. The paint layer was cleaned using cotton swabs and aqueous solutions to remove grime and accretions on the surface. Areas of flaking and lifting paint were consolidated using an archival adhesive. Areas of loss were filled with gesso, textured and then inpainted. The cleaning revealed the vibrant colors to once again resonate throughout the composition.
A great before and after example of a recent painting treatment.
Through surface cleaning and minor conservation intervention, the painting now represents the artist’s original intention and is now back on display. If you have questions about the potential care and preservation of a piece, please contact us at [email protected]
