Restoration of Easel Paintings
Restoration of Easel Paintings
Paintings can deteriorate or sustain damage in several ways: dust and grime can obscure the image; discoloured varnish can affect subtle tonal changes; exposure to fluctuating temperature and humidity can lead to cracking and flaking paint; physical damage such as tears, punctures and scratches can occur during transport and handling.
Restoration by a trained and experienced conservator may enhance the aesthetic and financial value of a painting for current and future generations. Preventive conservation strategies, such as environmental control, or more practical measures, such as the attachment of backboards to paintings, can retard the deterioration of paintings and objet d’art.
Conservation of Hubert Herkomer’s portrait of William Cawkwell for the National Railway Museum