Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-12-11
PICTURE MENDING.
A LITTLE KNOWN BUT IMPoR-
TANT BRANCH OF ART.
Restoring Valuable Old Paintings
to Their Original Freshness
"Shrinking'' Picture-DeM-
cate and Difficult Work.
LITTLE known but useful
branch of art is the trade OF
the picture repairer, who

Va
~ the picture repairer, who
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 reDovat-
ing those in which the paint has
cracked, while the other is the trans
ferring of 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 yarnish 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
tion 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 or more in n
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
dc. Years of experience are necessary
to give 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 aH the back thor
oushly wet. The old canvas is then
removed thread by thread until moth
ing is left but the paint still fast to
the tissue paper. Any cracks are then
filed in from behind with yarnish.
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 cleansed, after which the
process is complete and the old
cracked painting is nowrestored to its
original beauty, aud fun nished with an
entirely new canvas. This process,
when carried out upon valuable old
csster, is one which involves an enor.
mons sHnsunt of trouble, and is never
lone unless Absolutely necessary. The
,isk is too great ana wzesn VI
rsntnre TO undertake it. Some of the
used by the old painters are
hard and it is almost impos-
ible to remove them without taking
mt colors and all.
A still more difficult process is the
transferring of pictures from wood to
anvas. To do this tho wooden panel
II whatever it may be IS planed away
Irtil the painting rests upon the mer-
st she'll of wood. a. special tool is
hen used until the paint outlines of
he picture can be seen through the
rood. Before doing this tissue paper
s pasted on the front of the painting,
s in the process previously described.
'umice and wet sponge remove the
asst vestige of wood, and the new can
as is then mounted. The tissue paper
8 wetted and peeled eff, after which
he operation is complete. Unless the
rood is badly warped or shows signs
f decay the paint is Iot transferred,
ut the panel is Strengthened by me.
hanical means. The wood is first
,laued to the thickness of quarter
4 an inch and then Stats are glued on
he back, running the same way as the
rain. These are crossed by lateral
ieces fitting into them, but moving
reely SO as to allow for shrinkage.
his is known as grading, and is also
mployed when panel is broken.
he pieces are carefully joined and the
'icture is Graded.