Lacy Blue Lady

Some conservation projects are especially satisfying, like this 19th century portrait of a woman. She was covered in a thick layer of surface grime, and the varnish coating was extremely yellowed, giving the painting a sallow appearance.

She needed a lot of work, but the final result was more than worth it. Removing the layers of grime and varnish revealed a truly gorgeous painting underneath: bright blue dress, delicate lace, clear rosy skin - and look at that hairdo!

Of course, it wouldn't be a typical day in art conservation without at least one surprise. On the back of the canvas, we discovered an unfinished painting that had been used as a lining.

We don't know why this painting was abandoned - the artist may have been unsatisfied with their work, or they may have been unable to continue working with the model. Whatever the reason, it was a fun discovery to make, and we took the opportunity to clean up this "bonus" painting for the client as well. You never know what you'll find!