REMOVING A YELLOWED VARNISH

John Nott Sartorius (1759-1826)
The Kill
oil on canvas
Acc. No: 1595

Earlier condition: The painting was previously conserved in the early 1900s and in this treatment the varnish had been removed and the painting was lined. This process included the removal of the original tacking margins and the application of retouchings. Over subsequent years a thick layer of surface dirt accumulated and discoloured the painting’s appearance so that the original artist’s colours could no longer be clearly appreciated. By 2003 the earlier retouchings had become discoloured, and the natural resin varnish had considerably yellowed.

Current treatment: The process began with the complete removal of surface dirt and the discoloured varnish. An isolating conservation varnish was applied using a special varnishing brush. Small damages were inpainted using reversible colours and a final varnishing took place using a modern, non-yellowing reversible varnish. Small damages to frame were replaced and the frame was cleaned. The picture was then reinserted into its frame using flexible brass plates to secure it.