Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-12-11
PICTURE MENDING.
A LlrTLE KNOWN BUT IMPoR-
TANT BRANCH OF ART.
Restoring Valuable Old Paintings
to Their Original Freshness -
ssShrinking" a Picture-Deli-
cate and Difficult Work.
: LITTLE known but useful
\ branch OF art is the trade OF

~ the picture repaIrer, VINO
renovates old paintings,
mutilated pictures, and, if necessary,
transfers The painting to new canvas.
Though there are many men making
speciality of this work in New York,
there are only one or two experts to
whom old masters are intrusted. There
are two distinct branches Of this pecu-
liar business; one consists in repair.
ing mutilated pictures and reDoyat-
ing those in which the paint has
cracked, while the other Is the trans.
ferring of a painting from the old
canvas to new one.
When picture is nearly obllterated
by the dust and dirt which gather on
the varnish, as often happens in paint
ings of any age which have not been
carefully looked after, the simple pro.
cess of removing the old varnish and
putting on new makes q marvellous
change in its appearance. If the paint
is cracked more elaborate operation
is necessary. The little cracks are
sometimes filled up with compost
ton after the old varnish has been re-
moved and then the picture is revar-
nished. This is often delicate
operation on account of the difficulty
in exactly matching the different col
ors. When the picture is very badly
cracked this method is. not available,
for the aggregate width of large
number of cracks will sometimes
amount to half an inch Jr more in q
large painting. The operation OF
shrinking is then performed. What
the exact process is the expert who
talked with New York Tribune
reporter did not care to say, but it
consists. in removing the old canvas
and then, by means of material laid
wet on the painting and allowed to
dry, the cracks are brought together.
This last process is very difficult one
and closely resembles the transferring
of paintings performed when the
original canvas has partially rotted
away, an operation which is undoubt-
edly the most delicate piece of work
the picture restorer is called upon to
do. Years of experience are necessary
to givc the requisite nicety of touch
and dex.erity.
After the picture has been taken
out of the frame it Is set upon an easel
and tissue paper pasted over its face.
When it is dry the picture is turned
over and the canvas at the back thor
oughly wet. The old canvas is then
removed thread by thread until moth
ing is left but the paint still fast to
the tissre paper. Any cracks are then
filed III from behind with a varnish-
like composition, and the new canvas
mounted and glued on to the back OF
the painting. When this is dry the
tissue paper is moistened and gently
removed from the face of the picture.
It is then cleanseds after which the
process is complete and the old
cracked painting is nowrestored to its
original beauty, aud fur nished with an
entirely new canvas. This process,
when carried out upon valuable old
is one which involves an enor-
nous amoannt of trouble, and is never
done unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. The
risk is too greats anu rev sn VAL
venture to undertake il. Some OF the
rarnishes used by the old painters are
extremely hard and it is almost impos-
,ible to remove them without taking
out colors and all. i
a still more difficult process is the
OF pictures from wood to
To do this the wooden panel
or whatever it may be IS planed away
lntil the painting rests upon the mer-
est she'll of wood. A special tool is
;hen used until the paint outlines OF
,he picture can be seen through the
wood. Before doing this tissue paper
is pasted on the front of the painting,
as in the process previously described.
Pumice and wet sponge remove the
last vestige of wood, and the new can.
vas is then mounted. The tissue paper
is wetted and peeled of, after which
The operation is complete. Unless the
wood is badly warped or shows signs
Of decay the paint is not transferred,
but the panel is Strengthened by me-
me.ne. The wood is first
plaued to the thickness of quarter
of an inch and then Stats are glued on
The back, running the same way as the
grain. These are crossed by lateral
pieces fitting into them, but moving
freely so as to allow for shrinkage.
This is known as grading, and is also
employed when a panel is broken.
The pieces are carefully joined and the
picture is Graded.