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Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
Conservation departments
The painting before treatment
Before conservation the painting was covered with thick layers of deeply discoloured varnish and only under a strong light was the colour of the green curtain in the top right visible. The surface tended to a matt brown tonality and the sitter’s arms and dress were disfigured by dark spotting. Old and recent flake losses were evident along the stretcher bar marks and a marked network of craquelure was present.
Initial tests on the varnish showed that two layers were present: a yellowed varnish probably dating from the 1950s and a much older, natural resin varnish which was more deeply discoloured.
The painting before treatment under raking light.
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