Over decades, dust, nicotine and airborne particles can settle between the fibres of the canvas, forming a greasy and dirty layer on the surface.
The yellow and grey dirt that washes the painting’s colours together normally adheres to the surface too stubbornly for household cleaners.
We have come across several paintings in our studio that have been attempted to clean using methods found on the internet, however the materials used had caused unexpected effects on the images.
To us, a very exciting moment of cleaning paintings is when we can magically reveal the vibrant original colours of the painting.
However, before we start work on a centuries old painting’s surface, we considerately perform cleaning tests on the paint coat in order to see how it reacts to the chosen chemical.
Many do not realise, that when trying to use using a cleaner to clean a paint surface, it will not only act at the moment of cleaning, but can damage the surface and penetrate the paint layer and canvas, until another chemical is used to neutralise it.
On porous or coarser woven canvases the dirt is more adherent.
Removal of old lacquer is meticulous and delicate work, as often paint and lacquer are difficult to seperate, and materials of differing strengths are needed. The cleaning process becomes more complicated when the paint layer is no longer well-preserved, cracks may appear on the surface of the painting, along with gaps or fissures in smaller or larger areas.
In this case, along with damage and cracks, the detergent has seeped into the layers of the painted surface, and moisture has caused swellings to appear that may peel off the canvas.
This level of
damage is irreversible with the use of tools and cleaning products found
in the home, and cannot be repaired by a layperson in a professional
way.
On several occasions we have received paintings whereby the owner has caused the paint to be removed from the canvas, by the use of paint-cleaners.
Every painting has its individual “life story”,
likewise the process of cleaning and restoring, so it is always
important to entrust these interventions to a qualified restorer.
Fine art cleaning: ann.conservation@gmail.com or 07450008972