Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-28
THE PICTURE DOCTORS.
How Valuable Paintings Are Re-
paired-Experts In the Trade.

(New York Tribune)
A little known but useful branch OF art
is the trade in the pcture-repairer. who
renoyates old paintings. mends mutllated
pictures. and, IL necessary, transfers the
painting 10 new canvas. Though there
are many men making a speciality OF
this work in New York, there are only
one or two experts TO whom old masters
are entrusted. There are two distinct
branches to this peculiar business; one
consists in repairing mutilated pictures
and renOyating those in which the paint
has cracked, while the other is the trans
ferrng of "A painting from the old can
vas 10 a new one. When a picture Is
nearly Obliterated by the dust and dirt
which gather on the vsrnlsh, as often
happens in paintings OF any age which
have not been carefully looked after. the
simple process OF removing the old var
| nish and putting on new makes a mar
vellous change in Its appearance. III
the paint is cracked. a more elaborate
operation is necessary. The little cracks
are sometimes filled up with compost
ton after the old yarnish has been re-
moved, and chen the picture is revar-
nished. This is often delicate opera
ton on account OF the difficulty In exactly
picture Is very badly cracked. this method
is not available. for the aggregate width
of a large number of cracks will some
times amount 10 half an inch or more in
a large painting. The operation of shrink
ing is then performed. What the exact
process Is, the expert who talked with
Tribune reporter did not care to say, but
Il consists in removing the old canvas.
and then. by means OF material laid wet
on the painting and allowed to dry, the
crooks are brought together. This last
process Is a very difficult one, and closely
resembles the transferring of paintings.
performed when the orig.na. canvas has
partially rotted away, an operation which
IS undoubtedly the most delicate piece
of work which a picture-restorer is called
upon to do. Years OF experience are ne
cessary to give the requisite nicely OF
touch and dexterity.
After the picture has been taken out
OF the frame ii is set upon an easel, ana
tissue paper Is pasted over its face. When
il is dry the picture is turned over and
the canvas at the back thoroughly wet
The old canvas is then removed thread
by thread until nothing is left but the
paint still fast TO the tissue paper Any
cracks are then filed in from behind
with varnish-tke composition, and the
new canvas mounted and glued on 70 the
back of the painting. When this Is
dry the tissue paper Is moistened and
gently removed from the face or the PIE
ture 1t is then cleansed. after which the
process is complete and the old cracked
painting is now restored TO its orlElhal
beauty. and furnished with an entirety
rev canvas. This process, when carried
out upon a valuable old master. Is one
which involves an enormous amount or
trouble. and Is never done unless aoso-
luielv necessary. The risk Is too great,
and few men will venture TO undertake
IL. Some Of the varnishes used by the
old painters are extremely hard, ana
II is almost impossible II remove them
without taking out colors and all.
Whenever a restOrer gets picture 10
renovate by removing the Oh Varhisn'
he first tries an insignificant corner 10
see how the colors stand the process.
pictures painted by the old masters are
generally done with good colors which
viii not easily be injured, but the pic
tures OF a hundred years ago and about
tho time OF SIR Joshua Reynoldss works
have no, lasted very well ana are
rather ticklish 10 handle. They USED
good deal OF bi'umen in mixing their
colors. thereby getting GOOD erect ~
the time. but greatly spelling ne Iast-
ing qualities of their paih,insS.. o.
fe,y of the WORKS OF DAi
nolds are in really fine condiuoh.
4 s,ill more difficult process Is me
transferring OF pictures from wood 10
canvas TO do this the wooden panel
or whatever II may be. Is planed away
until the painting rests upon the meres'
she'll of wood. A snecial tool IS theh
used un.u the paint outlines or me PIC
ture can be seen through the WOOD. be-
fore doing this tissue-paper Is pasted OF
the front OF the painting. as In the pro-
cess nrsviously described. Pumice and
, Not snonge remove the last vestge or
GOOD ana the new canvas IS then mount
"a The tissue-paper IL wetted and
rsa,ed of. after which the operation Is
comnIete Unless the wood Is badly
y.orned or shows signs of decay. the
,aint is not transferred. but the panel
is straigh ened by mechanical means.
The wood il first planed to the thickness
~ a ouarter OF an inch, and then Stats
are Glued on the back. running the same
yav as the grain. These are crossed by
lateral pieces fitting into them, but NOV
inc freely. so as 20 allow for shrink
ace This Is known as grading, ana Is
also employed when panel Is broken
The pieces are carefully Joined. ana the
picture is Graded
There IL fine example or transferring
from wood 10 canvas In the Metropolitan
Museum OF Art. IL Is the Return OF
the Holy Family from Egypt" by Ru-
beng. and hangs In the eastern gallery.
The work of transferring took years TO
perform. and the plans were all care