Cleaning

After a close examination and photos, the next step is the cleaning of the surface. I used an emulsion cleaner, which removes surface grim and grit and even thin layers of varnish.

Here, I cleaned one half of the painting. You can see a definite difference especially in the cloud the the upper left corner.

After the second half is done.

Full view of one half cleaned.

Side ways picture of finished cleaning. I'll turn this photo around when I figure out how to....

Pretty Cracked Tree Landscape

Subject: Tree Landscape

Artist: Clark Hubart (1868-1948)

Year: 1900 circa

Technique: Oil on artist board

Support: Artist board. Stable, still in good shape.

Ground: White, thin

Pictoral Film: Oil, Brush strokes evident. The paint layer is cracked.

Varnish: not evident

Conservation/Restoration Intervention:

Overall, this piece is not in that bad of shape. Basicly, I'm going to attempt to conserve or maintain what is already here, rather than attempting to bring it back to a previous state which could possible harm the painting or change the image. This would go against the "rules of restoration". At the base of these rules is, "Minimal intervention". This means: Putting the piece under as less stress as possible. Not adding too much to the image, changing it in anyway.. respecting the painting for what it is and its own unique qualities and its history. Also, the instventions have to be reversible. Ten, twenty or more years down the road, the painting will eventually have to be restored again. Everything done and used on the painting have to be stripped away and redone. Restoration is a constanly evolving field, and later on, there might be a better way of doing things, we have to keep this in mind.

To be continued........