Many people found the recent scenes of soup being thrown at priceless artworks shocking. Many assumed that without glass to protect the artwork, it could be lost forever or damaged beyond repair. Perhaps surprisingly, this may not always be the case. As long as the painting is stable, varnished and quickly seen to by professional… Read more »
Case Studies, Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Restoration stories, Useful articles
The Dutch golden age allowed landscapes to become an admired genre that was no longer practised simply as a backdrop to a historical or biblical scene. Views of the Netherlands did not have to be full of allegory to produce a compelling composition, the mass urbanisation of the country in the 17th century created an… Read more »
Education & Training, Guides and Advice, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Useful articles
In September 2022, we hosted the Modular Cleaning Programme (MCP) workshop in our Carlisle studio. Thirty-five conservators from around the world participated in a week long course led by Chris Stavroudis, a scientist and art conservator based in Los Angeles. It was an exciting and valuable educational experience for all involved. What is the Modular… Read more »
Artwork Analysis, Case Studies, Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Useful articles
One of the most frequent reasons for painting restoration is discolouration of the surface. Whilst there are many factors that can lead to a dark or distorted appearance, fireplace smoke is often involved. Over the course of their life, historic artworks have usually been in one or more locations with an open fire. Historic interiors… Read more »
Every year we like to celebrate the diverse and wonderful restoration work that has been completed in our studio. The most memorable pieces often have stories and a lot of hard work behind them, so we have asked our office team and conservators to tell us about their favourite projects of 2022. Wik is a… Read more »
Case Studies, Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Useful articles
Oil paintings are made up of several layers, often these cannot be seen by the untrained eye but nevertheless disturb the original intention of the artist. Surface contamination, discoloured and darkened varnish and the historic build-up within crevices can all make a remarkable visual difference when they are sensitively removed. Historic oil paintings may have… Read more »
Case Studies, Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Restoration stories, Useful articles
Our team loves nothing more than being able to delve into the history of each artwork that comes into our studio. Every so often, we are greeted by a familiar face from British history – royalty and aristocracy, soldiers and lawmakers. However, some of these are more infamous than others, as was the case with… Read more »
Case Studies, Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Useful articles
Many of the paintings that we receive in our studio are copies of some of the greatest paintings in human history. This was very much the case for a recent conservation project that would reveal hidden figures in a darkened copy of Rembrandt’s De Nachtwacht – also known as The Nightwatch or it’s much longer,… Read more »
Contemporary Art, Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Restoration stories, Useful articles
The artwork that we hold dear to us may not only visually represent the past, but bring with it the personality and philosophy of the person who created it. This was the case with a large collection of paintings that came to our attention following a devastating flood. The artist was our client’s husband, actor… Read more »
Education & Training, Guides and Advice, Latest News, Useful articles
Our painting conservation team at Fine Art Restoration Company is passionate about the preservation of both historic and contemporary art. All have studied the chemistry and ethics of this role for many years to become professional easel painting conservators. One of the newest members of our team is Hayley, who is about to graduate from… Read more »
Ceramics, Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Restoration stories, Useful articles
Priceless memories are often found embedded in the brushstrokes of a painting, the gaze of a porcelain figurine or the remnants of ink upon a well-used writing desk. In our restoration studio, trained conservators protect many items that hold personal importance to clients, from family heirlooms to beloved portraits. This was the case with a… Read more »
Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Restoration stories, Useful articles
This beautiful Dutch painting by Johan Barthold Jongkind was passed down to our client by their father. It had originally belonged to their great aunt, who was part of the resistance during World War II. Little is known about how this painting came to her, but it is believed that it may have been given… Read more »
Ceramics, Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Useful articles
Some of the most popular pieces of antique porcelain and bone china come from well-loved tea sets. Whether teacups and teapots are family heirlooms, decorative objects or still serve a practical purpose, it is worth looking into their history to establish possible value and any need for professional preservation. From historic Yixing teapots to the… Read more »
Ceramics, Guides and Advice, Latest News, Restoration stories, Useful articles
Our clients often approach us with their most treasured possessions following an accident or disaster, with many items holding deep personal meaning to a family or individual. This is why each painting, ceramic or piece of furniture that graces our studio is treated with the utmost care, whether their value is sentimental or monetary. Some… Read more »
Guides and Advice, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Useful articles
The key to understanding an artwork beyond the figurative context is to look for the signs and symbols of a deeper allegorical meaning. As well as the use of particular flowers, memento mori and references to Greek mythology, artists may also use animals to portray a theme. This allows them to achieve a greater depth… Read more »
Guides and Advice, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Specialist Items, Useful articles, Works On Paper
Our team is often asked whether a signature can be restored or made to stand out further, this answer to this is one of conservation ethics. The tampering of an artist’s name or an autograph can in fact de-value an artwork or item, as it alters the integrity and genuine nature of the work. However,… Read more »
Guides and Advice, History Of Art, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Useful articles
Flowers have always been a popular subject for still life paintings, as well as making a symbolic appearance in many other genres. Understanding the significance of floral choice and the story behind these beautifully composed details may help you to unlock the true themes and meaning of your artwork. Above: a detail from Vase of… Read more »
Antique Furniture, Guides and Advice, Latest News, Useful articles
There are many ways to age a piece of furniture, as seen in our previous article about the many styles of brassware throughout history. This article will look at the ever-changing styles of chair backs and legs that may give us a further understanding of when a chair was made and the fashion that inspired… Read more »
Guides and Advice, Latest News, Specialist Items, Useful articles, Works On Paper
Both historic and contemporary posters may require conservation treatments to ensure their stability and safe preservation. Paper is a notoriously fragile material that can be damaged in numerous ways, from mould growth to brittle deterioration. One of the most frequently requested and required conservation treatments is the professional lining of posters, strengthening and protecting them… Read more »
Guides and Advice, Latest News, Oil Paintings, Useful articles
There are many aspects of an oil painting that may be able to give you an idea of their age. This is often an important process to establish whether a painting is antique or contemporary. Our studio often comes across paintings that may appear to be genuinely of their era upon first glance, but following… Read more »
