​

Portrait of Jean Pierre St. Clair
Oil on canvas - dated 1828

​

This early 19th century oil painting (70 x 90 cm)  required cleaning to restore the depth of colour and detail which would have been seen originally.   Old, discoloured varnish was carefully removed, some minor areas of missing paint re-touched and a protective coat of new varnish applied.   The delicate moulding of the frame (original) was also cleaned and re-burnished where gilding was missing.

Portraits of Jean Pierre St Clair and his wife, Leonie
Oil on canvas – dated c. 1813

​

Our client was so pleased with the completed large work that we were commissioned to clean the two matching portraits depicting the same gentleman and his wife.   These earlier portraits (each slightly smaller at 60 x 70cm) received similar treatment to restore and conserve the original colour and detail.  
In addition, some earlier restoration work on Leonie’s hair and face which had aged at a different rate was carefully cleaned and re-touched to blend better with the original.
In both cases, the original frames were cleaned and areas of damaged and loose moulding were repaired and stablised.

​

An impressionist-style mid-20th century painting on board found incorporated into the back of a stable wall (now demolished) after 50 years. The artist, John Sergeant RA lived at the property with his artist wife, Carolyn Cann.

​

The owners were keen to preserve the history of the painting, so we arranged for an acrylic support frame to be designed to hold the curved board, and enable the plaster at the back of the painting to be viewed.

​

​

​

An unusual request - to re-paint a portion of a portrait - has turned this sentimental portrait into a charming painting suitable for display.

​

The owner had sat for this portrait as a young girl, but has no idea why her mother gave her a green nose.

​

We were delighted to help out.

​

​

​