More damage is caused to paintings by over zealous restorers than any other single cause. The majority of paintings are finished with a varnish. The purpose of this varnish is to protect the painting. When a painting is dirty it is usually because the varnish has become discoloured and there is a build up of dirt and dust in the varnish. The solution is the very skillful removal of varnish without damaging the original paint work. The work is then re-varnished. There are now modern synthetic varnishes on the market which do not discolour and clients can choose between matt and shiny finishes.

Restorers deal with many other problems. They include:

• Holes, dents or cuts in the canvas. In this situation the canvas may well have to be re-lined. There are three different types of re-lining processes. The choice depends on the age and condition of the painting and for modern pictures, the amount of impasto.
• Paint loss due to an unstable ground. Instability can be due to the painting having been stored in damp, humid or overly dry conditions.
• The surface of a painting can be covered in tiny cracks. This can be due to paint separation or pain shrinkage.
• Water damage. This causes the canvas to shrink which results in the paint having no alternative but to drop off.

mid restoration

after