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Conservation and cleaning of a portrait of ‘Hyperion’, by Sir Alfred Munnings, in private ownership
Posted: September 13, 2020This C20th paining had never been cleaned. There was a heavy, blackish dirt layer, and an average amount of heavily discoloured varnish. Removal of the varnish enabled the blues and violet shades that Munnings liked to use to be seen, playing their part as they do in creating form, shadow and distance. [case-study-gallery] -
Conservation and cleaning : South Riding Landscape Rowland Suddaby (1912-1972) Oil/canvas.
Posted: September 13, 2020This landscape painting was torn, and suffering from flaking paint. It was covered in a heavy grime layer on top of a thin varnish. [case-study-gallery] -
Conservation and restoration of Portrait of Thos. Panton, 1772, by Thomas Gainsborough
Posted: September 13, 2020The unlined portrait was torn and very fragile. There were layers of dirt and varnish distorting the colours and picture space of the painting. [case-study-gallery] -
The Restoration of ‘The Battle of Pharsalus’, a cassone panel, by Apollonio di Giovanni (c.1403-1489)
Posted: September 11, 2020‘The Battle of Pharsalus’ cassone panel, tempera, gold and silver on panel, 16 x 61 ⅞ inches (40.5 x 157.2 cm). The treatment involved retouching to correct areas of wear and unresolved old restoration, in order to improve the readability of the scene. External structural work was commissioned to remove an old cradle that was holding the panel under considerable tension. This restoration was carried out on behalf of a private collector. -
The Restoration of ‘Still Life of Flowers in a Glass Vase’ by Maria Van Oosterwyck (1630-1693)
Posted: September 11, 2020‘Still Life of Flowers in a Glass Vase’, ca. 1685, oil on canvas, 31 ¾ x 26 ¼ inches (79.5 x 66.5 cm). The project focussed on improving the legibility of the painting, as scattered light caused by elevated craquelure obscured details within the composition and was distracting to the eye. The painting was cleaned, relined, and losses were filled and retouched, before the work was varnished and re-presented in its frame. This restoration was carried out in advance of the painting’s acquisition by an American museum. -
The Restoration of ‘A Fête at Bermondsey’ by Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder (1520-1590)
Posted: September 11, 2020‘A Fête at Bermondsey’, oil on panel, 29 x 40 inches (73.8 x 99 cm). Previously attributed to Joris Hoefnagel. Treatment for this painting focused on consolidating areas of elevated craquelure, and integrating areas of wear through retouching to reunify the overall painting. The restoration was carried out for an English public collection, in collaboration with a research project on the attribution of the painting. -
Great Hall, Oriel Window. Hampton Court Palace.
Posted: September 9, 2020A restoration of the Oriel Window in the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace. -
Old Public Record Office, Maughan Library, Chancery Lane
Posted: September 9, 2020In 2001 I was contacted by Donald Insall Architects on behalf of the Crown Estate to examine a stained glass window unearthed in the Rolls Chapel and to discuss the viability of conserving the window. Over a period of eight months the window, which depicts the coat of arms of George IV, was restored and subsequently reinstated in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II. -
Conservation and Restoration of Donald Judd Untitled Concrete
Posted: September 8, 2020To remove layers of restoration of the surface of the concrete in order to treat underlying problems and restore the artists intended surface finish. -
Brunel’s Thames Tunnel commemorative printed silk kerchief
Posted: September 5, 2020The printed silk kerchief, part of an archive of original designs of Brunel’s Thames Tunnel, commemorates the opening of the tunnel in 1843. The project involved removal of the very fragile and fragmentary silk panel from an old, acid mount, by removing scores of metal staples and degraded adhesive tape; followed by conservation treatment and re-mounting to make it sufficiently stable for storage, study and occasional display. Treatment also included the fabrication of a customised storage box.