New-York tribune., 1895-10-13
THE PICTURE DOCTORS.
HOW VALUABLE PAINTINGS ARE RE-
PAIRED-EXPERTS IN THE TRADE.

/ HOW VALUABLE PAINTINGS ARE RE-
/ PAIRED-EXPERTS IN THE TRADE
| A little known but useful branch OF art is the
! trade OF the picture reparer. who renovates old
paintings. mends mutilated pictures and II neces-
sary. transfers the painting to new canvas Though
/ there are many men making specially OF this
work in New-York. there are only one or two ex-
perts TO whom old masters are intrusted. There are
two distinct branches 10 this peculiar business;
: one consists in repairing mutilated pictures and
renovating those in which the paint has cracked
while the other Is the transferring of a painting
from the Old canvas to a new one When picture
! is nearly obiterated by the dust and dirt which
Gather on the yarnish. as often happens in paint
ings Of any which have not been carefully
looked after. the simple process OF removing the
old varnish and putting on new makes mar
velous change in its appearance. IL the paint Is
cracked a more elaborate operation IS necessary
The little cracks sometimes filled up with a
composition after the o.d varnlsh has been re-
moved and then the picture is revarnished This is
often delicate operation on account or the am
Guilty i'm exactly matching the different colors
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 more in a large painting. The operation
Of shrinking is then performed. What the exact
process is the expert who talked with Tribune
reporter did not care to say but II consists in re-
moving the old canvas and then. by means OF
material lald wet on the painting and allowed TO
dry the cracks are brought together. This last
process Is a very difficult one and closely resem.
b.es the transferring Of paintings performed when
the original canvas has partially rotted away, an
operation which is undoubtedly the most delicate
piece of work which picture restorer Is called
upon to do Years Of experience necessary TO
give the requisite nicely Of touch and dexterty
After the picture has been taken out Of the frame
.rs1f Eal atfa
its face When it 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 then filed in from behind
with a varuishllke composition. ana 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. /; is
then cleansed afte- which the process is complete
and the old cracked painting Is now restored 10 Its
original beauty. and furnished with an entirely
new canvas. This process. when carried out upon
a valuable old master. Is one which involves an
enormous amount Of trouble and is never done
less absolutely necessary. The risk Is too great.
and few men Will venture to undertake it. Some
OF the varnishes used by the old painters are ex-
tremey hard and II IL almost impossible 70 remove
them without taking out colors and all.
Whenever a restorer gets picture 10 renovate
By removing the old varnish he first tries an In
process Pictures painted by the old masters are
generally done with good colors which will not
easily be injured. but the pictures OF hundred
years ago and about the time OF Sir Joshua Rey-
noldss works have not lasted very well. and are
rather t.cksh 70 handle They used good deal
OF blturnen IN mixing their coors. thereby getting
good effect at the time. but greatly spelling the
lasting qualities OF their paintings Very few Of the
works OF Sir Joshua Reynolds are In really fine
condition.
A still more difficult process is the transferring
Of pictures from wood 10 canvas. To do this the
wooden panel or whatever II may be Is paned away
until the painting rests upon the merest she'll OF
wood A special TOO, is then used until the paint
outlines OF the picture can be seen through the |
wood Before dong this tissue paper is pasted on
the front OF the painting. as in the process pre-
viously described Pumice and Wet sponge re- |
rnoV,e Inc last vestige OF wood and the new can
vas Is then mounted. Inc tissue paper is wetted |
and peeled OF after which the operation Is COM |
piete Unless the wood is badly warped or shows
Signs OF decay the paint is not transferred but |
the panel Is st-a,ghtened by mechanical means. |
rhe wood Is frat paned 10 the thickness OF a
quarter OF an inch and then sats are glued on the
hack running the same way as the grain. These !
arc crossed by lateral pieces fitting into them. but
moving freely 80 a to allow for shrnkage. This |
Is known as grading. and Is also employed when