The History of Oil Painting Restoration

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The History of Oil Painting Restoration
Much like portrait painting itself, the history
of art restoration dates back centuries. As early
as the 16th Century, the frescoes of the Sistine
Chapel underwent restoration following water
damage. Today, restorers enjoy superior education
as to how to retain pristine conditions in
glorious masterworks, as well as greater
technology. As a result, art restoration in the
UK is a booming business.
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Art can be damaged for any number of reasons,
whether by accident or design. All major art
galleries now employ dedicated art restoration
specialists. Take a stroll around any significant
museum and, behind the scenes, there will be
several accredited restorers ensuring that
exhibits retain their sense of awe. Simon
Gillespie is no exception. In addition to
displaying work, we work tirelessly on oil
painting restoration in our London gallery. Art
restoration in the UK and beyond rose to
prominence in the earliest days of the 19th
Century. By this period in history, works
created by the Masters were beginning to lose
their splendour. Restorers applied wood ash to
these works, then washed it off with water.
Alas, this created a harsh, alkaline solution
that often did more harm than good. Fats forward
to the 1920s, however, and art restoration began
to adopt a more scientific approach. The Fogg Art
Museum of Harvard, under the guidance of
celebrated art historian Edward W. Forbes,
instigated more profound research into the
process of art restoration. The new techniques
included x-raying a canvas to pinpoint any
necessary adjustments. Of course, these new
techniques for painting restoration soon reached
London and the rest of the UK. Another step
forward arose in the mid-1970s when education
improved once more. Art restoration in the UK
will now typically entail infrared imaging to
locate any discoloured or damaged paint. Armed
with the appropriate information, an accredited
art restorer can begin the process of
painstakingly reviving a canvas. Often, this
involves applying a fresh layer of varnish to
separate layers of paint, then reapplying the
colour. Whether this will precisely match the
shades and hues of the original work or stand out
with renewed brightness is a matter of
preference. If you need oil painting restoration
in London, Simon Gillespie is waiting to hear
from you. Our experienced and dedicated team of
accredited art restorers can return any artwork
to its former glory. Better yet, we can take
protective measures to prolong the lifespan of
an oil painting. Art restoration in the UK is our
business, and at Simon Gillespie, we take
exceptional pride in our work. Source h
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