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Treatment of a 16th-century Spanish Panel Painting

Treatment

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Varnish removal was carried out after surface cleaning and preliminary consolidation. The original varnish layer, long since removed, was determined from analysis of residues to have been colophony. This had been replaced with a shellac–oil varnish. This shellac–oil varnish was resistant to conventional solvent cleaning and so a method of swelling the varnish using solvent vapours was devised. The removal of this varnish layer returned the painting closer to its original appearance and stripped away old and mismatched overpaints.

Varnish Removal 1

1. This image shows a paint layer covered with an old shellac–oil varnish. This layer is not original to the painting.

Varnish Removal 2

2. The varnish layer has been swelled by solvent vapours.

Varnish Removal 3

3. The varnish layer has completely gelled and can be removed mechanically without affecting the sensitive paint below.

Varnish Removal 4

4. The shellac–oil varnish has been removed from the paint surface.
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