Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Fletcher Randsom, Untitled, Oil on Canvas 48" x 70"
This life-size painting by Fletcher Ransom hung inside a tavern for many years and was exposed to decades of soot, nicotine, grease and countless other unknown abuses. During the conservation process significant paintlosses were discovered as well as a very large hole in the center of the image. Despite the hole being as large as a fist the painting was not lined. Rather, a new piece of matching canvas was rewoven into the existing linen.

Image William Meritt Chase, Untitled, Oil on Canvas 80" x 36"
When this full size portrait by William Merit Chase came to us it appeared odd that the woman's dress contained three pleats on the right of the image yet only two on the left. Sure enough due to a tear and a previous conservation attempt the uppermost pleat was overpainted. After removal of the discolored varnish and overpainting the dress as Chase envisioned it; white with three pleats was revealed.

Image Image Image Image Jan Matulka, Untitled, Oil on Masonite 48" x 70"
This painting by Jan Matulka had been whitewashed over by the artist with the intent of creating a new body of work. He expressed regret over these actions though didn't live to see them salvaged. The process of removing the white paint was amazingly labor intensive and delicate. Using dental tools and various scalpels the white paint was slowly chipped off of the oil paint. Inch by inch the painting was revealed. And while it was painstaking the results are stunning.

Image Image Image Image Image Image Artist Unknown, Untitled, Oil on Canvas 48" x 70"
This painting, after Raphael was clearly subject to some mishandling. Having been torn, folded, rolled and water damaged painting was as fragile as could be. After the painting was stabilized, cleaned, and lined the long process of retouching began. Though perhaps it would have been quicker and less difficult to simply overpaint the damaged areas this would be irresponsible and simply the wrong way of practicing restoration. Only the areas with paint loss were retouched and though it was a long and slow process, the results were amazing.

Image Image Image Image Diego DeRiveria, Untitled, Oil on Canvas 48" x 70"
Though this painting by Diego DeRiveria only required a cleaning, due to the large areas of solid color it was essential to ensure that the process of cleaning left no evidence of the conservator's work. Further, the soot to which the painting was exposed was particularly well bonded to the fugitive paint film and as such made the process of achieving a uniformity during cleaning much more difficult.

Image Image L.M. Wiles, "The Storming of Fort Dearborn", Oil on Canvas 48" x 70"
When this painting arrived it was by an unknown artists and untitled, heavily overpainted and poorly lined. During the process of removing the overpainting and lining a signature and title was discovered on the original canvas. As it so happens the painting, now with attribution was a significant piece both artistically and historically.

Image Artist Unknown, Untitled, Oil on Canvas 48" x 70"
Though this painting had no attribution it was an excellent example of American Naieve painting that all too often because of poor condition is lost.