In this section

• Introduction
• History of the painting
• Condition before treatment
• Removal of upper varnish
• Exposure of 1956 cleaning test
• Solvent tests
• Removal of older varnish
• During cleaning
• The painting before retouching
• Analysis of materials and techniques
• Summary of main findings

Solvent tests on the older varnish

Further solvent tests were made on the older varnish and the paint surface beneath was found to be in extremely good condition, although very thin and sketchy in areas - so thin that it may have been mistaken for cleaning damage in the 1950s examination, although it is absolutely typical of Gainsborough’s technique in the 1770s.

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