Two full sized Victorian portraits required restoration in situ.

The painting of Warren Stormes Hale had suffered a loss of paint and ground along the entire bottom edge. The picture was loose on its stretcher and had suffered accidental knocks. On examination many areas of unstable paint layers were discovered.

Restoration involved using gesso before retouching and retexturing and applying a mixture of matt and gloss varnish.

Access was difficult and special lighting was installed to aid the work.

The second painting, of John Humphery, had a scratch next to his face. The scratch was on the varnish layer and had not penetrated the paint.

Restoration involved four separate layers of carefully matched tinted varnish. All the work had to be carried out using a ladder.