|
|
|
Treatment Stage 2: Removing painting from stretcher
Before the canvas could be seperated from the stretcher, a layer of paper-gummed tape was removed from the edges of painting. Removal of the paper tape revealed extensive use of tacks through the face of the painting to hold the canvas onto the stretcher. Tacks were placed at approximately 6cm intervals along the bottom, left and right edges of the face of the canvas. The top edge of the painting had been folded around to the tacking edge and had also been tacked through original paint layers.
Bottom edge during tape removal exposing tacks through face
Bottom edge after removal of tacks showing poor condition of lining canvas tacking edges
After the removal of tacks from the front, the painting was turned face-down on a clean surface. The remaining tacks were removed, and the stretcher lifted away from the canvas.
The stretcher which had been reinforced with a baton at the bottom centre, was found to be broken through the width of the member around the bottom centre brace attachment. This was confirmation that a new stretcher would be required for the painting. The stretcher is not considered to be original but a 19th century replacement.
Break in stretcher from inside edge bottom centre |
|
|
