I just finished up this restoration for Complements Gallery in Smithfield, RI. It seemed like it was from around the late 19th century or early 20th, and it was badly re-stretched around the 70s. It was extremely dull, dirty and deteriorating and had a small hole that I repaired in the middle of the tree base in the center of the painting. I cleaned it, removed the varnish, brightened up the colors and added gold detailing where it had come off.
restoration
Flower Painting Restoration
1 CommentMid 19th century oil still life restoration.
This is my second sort of beginner project restoring this oil painting I bought off Craigslist.
The painting was covered in grime, probably years of smoke and grease residue from being in a kitchen, pieces of paper stuck to the flowers from newspaper or magazines being laid on top on it, holes and flaking, and general scratching damage.
Back view: post patching
This was my first time repairing holes in canvas, so I still need to go back in with heat gun to see if i can melt down the wax and resin that I used to bond the patch. and maybe give the white pieces on the back a brown coat of paint to be a little less conspicuous.
There is label on the back that reads "286 Westminster st, Providence RI. Charles Hagan" when I googled this information, I found a gallery that was open in 1870 in Providence that did restoration, framing, and gilting. There is a matching frame that came with the piece, so it is likely that the frame was made at the Charles Hagan Gallery. There is no signature from the artist, but I am hoping to contact the Providence Art Club, or a historical society to see if I can find any more information about the painting, maybe a possible artist with a similar style or series that could lead to a higher value when I sell the piece.
Some other images of the process.
mid cleaning
pre cleaning, paper chunks
larger hole, pre cleaning.
same area before the patching.
another area with a smaller loss pre patching and touch up.