Art Expert Removes 200-Year-Old Yellowing Varnish From A 399-Year-Old Painting, And The Difference Is Unbelievable
A protective finish is applied to keep paintings safe from wear, but they will discolor as a result of time going by. About two hundred years ago, someone coated a 1618 oil portrait of an unknown lady with a thick layer of paint sealant and it wasn’t until recently that the true colors of the classical painting were unearthed. Art expert and host of the BBC One show Fake or Fortune Philip Mould shared the footage with his followers, revealing the careful removal of the protective varnish from the old painting, and the transformation looks stunning.
“A remarkable Jacobean re-emergence after 200 years of yellowing varnish,” he wrote on Twitter. Most details of the “Woman in Red” are lost, and all that we know is that she was 36 years old at the time. While art restoration sometimes takes a terribly wrong turn, the presenter demonstrated a high level of expertise when revealing the lush classical paintings’ colors hiding under the protective finish.
“The painting was originally in a private collection in England,” Mould told The Telegraph. “We started the painting restoration <...> after extensive testing of the varnish on an oil surface on oak panel. A mixture of gel and solvent was created, specifically just to remove the varnish and not to damage the underlying paint. It’s different from normal restoration, with the gel suspending the solvent and working in a more controllable way.”
More info: Twitter
About two hundred years ago, someone coated a 1618 oil portrait of an unknown lady with a thick layer of varnish
It wasn’t until recently that the true colors of the artwork were unearthed
“We started restoration of the painting <…> after extensive testing of the varnish on an oil surface on oak panel”
“A mixture of gel and solvent was created, specifically just to remove the varnish and not to damage the underlying paint”
“It’s different from normal restoration, with the gel suspending the solvent and working in a more controllable way”
Most details of the “Woman in Red” are lost, and all that we know is that she was 36 years old at the time
To get the full satisfaction watch the video below
Most people were quick to celebrate the astonishing results
But some criticized the art historian for his “dangerous and irresponsible” approach
Makes you wonder if some of the paint didn't make it through their restoration! Her pale skin tone is amazing, but I wanted to see the dress. Have to agree with the critics, though: SCRUBBING an old painting seems overly risky.
Load More Replies...i can't believe people think they know better than a literal art expert. that aside. this is really impressive change.
From the comments, I'm guessing some of them might be experts themselves. I kinda feel like they have a point about the bristle brush, and using swabs instead. Don't know why you assume that none of them are. But anyway, removing that varnish was completely necessary. So much detail and vibrant colour was hidden under that thick layer of goop. Wish we got to see at least a before and after picture! Sure, it's never the same as seeing it person, but still.
Load More Replies...What's with this constant "Twitter response" Like, I can pick a select group of people with the caption "Some people thing its good to eat on tacos". Random schmucks on twitter have no bearing on anything~
For the people who wish to see the finished result after the clean up; https://twitter.com/philipmould/status/927691379559583744
It's not done yet. This link only shows the before picture.
Load More Replies...I also wished it showed finished restoration. Can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be to dress this way ? Time has helped us women here
More precisely, women of the past have helped us women here. ^_-
Load More Replies...While the results are remarkable (who doesn't love being able to really see those original colors?) I've got some reservations about the process...the video made me cringe- this is a very aggressive technique for restoration... (it's usually many many hours of carefully swabbed solution to get to the painting surface)- seeing this scrubbing and quick action of the chemical made me clench parts that shouldn't be clenched LOL...
This was so satisfying to watch! Like removing nasty tiles in room, only to reveal a beautiful hardwood floor underneath.
I want to answer the person who said the thing with the iphone: if you would be as careful with your phone as these people with the art - your phone wouldn't break :p i like the idea a lot
As my supervisor at work is using his SAMSUNG Galaxy with a full screen broken... for 2 years, I’m just rocking my unbroken iPhone 6+. #AdultingIsNotThatHard
Load More Replies...This is not a "restoration", this is "cleaning" from unwanted varnish that nothing have to do with the original painting. The yellow varnish (transparent at the beginning become yellow for organic elements presence) was a way to preserve the painting. A similar "cleaning operation" has been made in Cappella Sistina in Rome. Look at the result before unusefully shaking the tongue
Thank you for the link, Corpihaee. It turned out gorgeous, but I still think it was pretty risky. Also, I can't tell for sure how much of the brightness at the top is just flash glare in the photo, vs. part of the painting.
People refer to this as destroying the painting? It was destroyed 200 years after it was painted, by the application of the varnish. Now we can see how it was originally painted.
why would they start in the MIDDLE of the painting?? Start in a corner, that way if the s**t don't work, you won't f**k it up!!
Here's a little more info - https://www.nowtolove.com.au/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/watch-satisfying-video-42580
Is it just me or does she look older than 36? I know the life expectancy was a lot lower 399 years ago but wow, I would have pegged her for being in her 50's.
The difference is amazing, but I'm not sure this is the best way to do it.
I thought they're going to show the finished result... :( Anyways, it's quite amazing!
I agree that the stiff bristle brush was a mistake but though the varnish is part of history, hopefully, there is a new protectant that will not cover up the colors. that earring!
To all the people complaining about the methods used: When was the last time you tried anything new? Also, which would you rather have hang in your PRIVATE COLLECTION (not a goddamn museum), an old magazine illustration covered in 1/8" of nicotine, or a beautiful painting whose beauty can actually be seen?
Um they didn't even show the finished restoration, I think they jumped the gun on this publication !!
Recently met someone who restores artwork and documents and it really is painstakingly meticulous work
More reason to prove that I will never be able to paint with so much detail!!! The original painter was very talented!!!
Ouch. That is really bad. He is just lucky, that it seemd to work. Normally you would use some sort of less scratchy items and a suckingpump...
Makes you wonder if some of the paint didn't make it through their restoration! Her pale skin tone is amazing, but I wanted to see the dress. Have to agree with the critics, though: SCRUBBING an old painting seems overly risky.
Load More Replies...i can't believe people think they know better than a literal art expert. that aside. this is really impressive change.
From the comments, I'm guessing some of them might be experts themselves. I kinda feel like they have a point about the bristle brush, and using swabs instead. Don't know why you assume that none of them are. But anyway, removing that varnish was completely necessary. So much detail and vibrant colour was hidden under that thick layer of goop. Wish we got to see at least a before and after picture! Sure, it's never the same as seeing it person, but still.
Load More Replies...What's with this constant "Twitter response" Like, I can pick a select group of people with the caption "Some people thing its good to eat on tacos". Random schmucks on twitter have no bearing on anything~
For the people who wish to see the finished result after the clean up; https://twitter.com/philipmould/status/927691379559583744
It's not done yet. This link only shows the before picture.
Load More Replies...I also wished it showed finished restoration. Can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be to dress this way ? Time has helped us women here
More precisely, women of the past have helped us women here. ^_-
Load More Replies...While the results are remarkable (who doesn't love being able to really see those original colors?) I've got some reservations about the process...the video made me cringe- this is a very aggressive technique for restoration... (it's usually many many hours of carefully swabbed solution to get to the painting surface)- seeing this scrubbing and quick action of the chemical made me clench parts that shouldn't be clenched LOL...
This was so satisfying to watch! Like removing nasty tiles in room, only to reveal a beautiful hardwood floor underneath.
I want to answer the person who said the thing with the iphone: if you would be as careful with your phone as these people with the art - your phone wouldn't break :p i like the idea a lot
As my supervisor at work is using his SAMSUNG Galaxy with a full screen broken... for 2 years, I’m just rocking my unbroken iPhone 6+. #AdultingIsNotThatHard
Load More Replies...This is not a "restoration", this is "cleaning" from unwanted varnish that nothing have to do with the original painting. The yellow varnish (transparent at the beginning become yellow for organic elements presence) was a way to preserve the painting. A similar "cleaning operation" has been made in Cappella Sistina in Rome. Look at the result before unusefully shaking the tongue
Thank you for the link, Corpihaee. It turned out gorgeous, but I still think it was pretty risky. Also, I can't tell for sure how much of the brightness at the top is just flash glare in the photo, vs. part of the painting.
People refer to this as destroying the painting? It was destroyed 200 years after it was painted, by the application of the varnish. Now we can see how it was originally painted.
why would they start in the MIDDLE of the painting?? Start in a corner, that way if the s**t don't work, you won't f**k it up!!
Here's a little more info - https://www.nowtolove.com.au/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/watch-satisfying-video-42580
Is it just me or does she look older than 36? I know the life expectancy was a lot lower 399 years ago but wow, I would have pegged her for being in her 50's.
The difference is amazing, but I'm not sure this is the best way to do it.
I thought they're going to show the finished result... :( Anyways, it's quite amazing!
I agree that the stiff bristle brush was a mistake but though the varnish is part of history, hopefully, there is a new protectant that will not cover up the colors. that earring!
To all the people complaining about the methods used: When was the last time you tried anything new? Also, which would you rather have hang in your PRIVATE COLLECTION (not a goddamn museum), an old magazine illustration covered in 1/8" of nicotine, or a beautiful painting whose beauty can actually be seen?
Um they didn't even show the finished restoration, I think they jumped the gun on this publication !!
Recently met someone who restores artwork and documents and it really is painstakingly meticulous work
More reason to prove that I will never be able to paint with so much detail!!! The original painter was very talented!!!
Ouch. That is really bad. He is just lucky, that it seemd to work. Normally you would use some sort of less scratchy items and a suckingpump...
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