Art restoration is a controversial topic-and rightly so-as it is very misunderstood by most.

Many of our clients have very valuable pieces that were handed down along generations and so with the sentimental and economic value of such paintings, they are often resistant to the idea of changing frames, or cleaning, or varnishing the pieces as they believe that such measures would take away from the value and integrity of a painting.

Such a decisions however, are often at a cost for example refusing to change an original frame. Some original frames were placed directly onto the canvas and over the years have damaged the edges of the canvas as the wood aged. It is this damaged on the canvas more than the changing of the frame that reduces the value of the painting and make even the most valuable of pieces redundant regardless of how small from small chips on a corner to distinctive swipes across the pieces.

This however, is not to say that every old frame should be changed, but rather, it serves to explain the various misconception on adjusting paintings and factors that actually deteriorate the value of a painting.  

I would also take this opportunity to add that changing the old frame on a painting to a modern one may not necessarily affect the value of the piece itself, but will definitely make it more aesthetically pleasing and bring out elements of a painting that are not visible with an unflattering frame. Cleaning the canvas also makes colours and effects which have dulled out due to layers of dirt and age, more apparent and thus increases the appeal of the painting. It is also important to remember that some of our Old Masters were very poor painters who did not have access to the best materials hence certain conservatory techniques may not have been applied. Evidence of this is when the paper or canvas forms shallow waves within the frame or when the painting falls out of its original frame.  It is to combat the above that varnishing, block mounting and treating of canvases is advised to preserve the works for longer.

Art restoration however, is about more than just conserving the beauty of a piece. Accidents happen everywhere and all the time. Thanks to certain techniques of restoration, fire and water damage which in the past meant the end of painting are now repairable (depending of course on the extent of the damage).  

This, however, is where the controversy really begins. When a piece is restored, in most instances additional work is done. For example when the Picasso hanging at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York was torn by a tourist stumbling into it, restoration would require a seamless “re-gluing” for lack of a better word, and repainting over the seam to disguise the mishap. (The above is an over simplified description of a complex process). However, some argue the additional work (repainting) dilutes the original quality of the work and if done in a way that particularly sub-par, can take away from the talent of the original artist.

The key to understanding to this argument is that art is not something to be repaired but something to be restored. When a child tears the knees of their trousers, a mother can repair these by sowing a smiley face on them to cover the tear using any materials and with very basic skill allowing the jeans to once again become functional. However, when a tear occurs on a designer dress cut to the bias, a skilled tailor with experience in the methods of the original designer is best for deciding which material, seam and stitching is best for returning the outfit to as close a look as that initially produced by the designer such that there is no discernable difference to the dress after repair.

Hence most National galleries such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Tate Britain in London, and the Louvre in Paris have their own Art Conservation teams whose sole purpose is to examine, conserve and preserve valuable artifacts using the experience and science. Art conservers are guided by certain universal principals in their activities which allow the pieces to be rendered valuable and original even after their inputs, and thus does not distort the value of the works. And the above is what anyone with art pieces in need of restoration should seek out; a skilled artist or gallery with links to Artists or scholars who are very knowledgeable in the techniques of our old masters. 

And for assistance on this topic, be it ascertaining whether your peaces can be restored, actual restoring or guaranteeing the credibility of a potential art conservors, please do not hesitate to contact us on htaylor@mweb.co.za. As we use credible Art Conservors for our restorations and are also very capable of referring you to some of the best within your area.

Til the next time, be well.

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"Faith is the Bird that sings when the Dawn is still Dark."