Grime Cleaning

A darkened, yellowed layer of varnish is often what people notice first when looking at a painting that has been neglected over the years. It is also common for a painting to be covered in a superficial layer of household grime, dust, and possibly soot from years of being displayed or stored in a home.

When a painting arrives at our lab, one of the first steps in our treatment process is to thoroughly vacuum the reverse, edges, and if necessary the face of the painting. The painting is then tested with a variety of solvents to determine which layers will be safe to remove to restore the artists original vision.

In the case of this painting, an extremely dark layer of surface grime obscured the vibrant colors and tonal relationships that the artist intended for the viewer. After testing, it was determined that the painting did not have a varnish layer. A cleaning with pH adjusted distilled water transformed the piece and prepared the surface for a final saturating varnish.