This is a small painting of 76 X 60 cms including the frame. It is late 19th C or early 20th C. It is a family heirloom and it depicts the father in law of the client as a little boy riding his pony.

The painting was quite dull due to atmospheric pollution and insect dirt. However the most serious damage to the picture was that it was not secure on its stretcher and there was a lot of movement to the canvas leading to extensive ‘ridges’ on the whole surface of the paint layer.
Apparently it had fallen off the wall. This ‘shock’ had separated the paint layer from its support.

As the old varnish was being removed it became apparent that it was the varnish that was keeping the paint layer in place. The whole procedure had to be done very slowly and every part of loose paint had to be reattached individually. After the flaking areas were made secure the colour was reintegrated with restoration colours.

All the work done to this painting is 100% reversible.

The frame was damaged mainly in the corners. The four corners were replaced and gilded.