This lovely portrait is of Edith Amy Emerson, wife of Peter Henry Emerson, a pioneering photographer. It was painted by L Doucet in 1882 when Amy was 28.

The picture was in good general condition but was dark due to oxidised varnish and atmospheric pollution. There was 'aligator skin' craqueleure in front of her face and some wrinkling on her black dress.

The stretcher had some dry rot and there was some superficial damage to the 'pearls' on the frame.

The treatment involved removing the canvas from the stretcher before using various solvents to remove the oxidised varnish. The damage to the dress was treated with a warm spatula under a protective film. The stretcher was treated for dry rot and the wedges replaced. The frame was repaired using traditional gesso and bole before applying gold leaf.

After revarnishing the portrait was carefully retouched using restoration pigments. The process is entirely reversible in case a future restorer wishes to reveal the original picture.