REPORT ON THE RESTORATION OF THE PAINTING “PORTRAIT OF PEDRO MARTORELL Y OLIVES”
Before:
The main problem with the painting was the delamination of the paint layer
and preparation layer from the support. This was due to two causes:
• In the upper and middle part of the central figure, the paint layer
presented significant cracking, causing areas to lift. This was more
than likely caused by the aging of materials and the effects of
fluctuations in temperature and humidity over time.
• In the lower part of the painting there were significant losses of the
paint and preparation layer and what remained of the paint layer was
in a very delicate state. This had occurred in areas that had been
previously treated. Therefore, in addition to the causes described
above, other factors have contributed to the delamination, such as
the materials used during previous treatment or the thickness of the
gesso used to fill the gaps that existed at that time.
The treatment used to remedy this problem was fixation with resins applied
with a hot spatula. This procedure was used to treat both the delamination
from the support and small deformations that had occurred in the fabric.
Once the entire surface had been treated, the canvas was cleaned,
removing the existing varnish and the remains of the resin. As an
intermediate layer, before the gesso, a layer of retouching varnish was
applied with a palette. Next, the losses of the paint and preparation layer
were filled with gesso and retouched.
As a final step, a light final coat of powdered varnish was applied.
and preparation layer from the support. This was due to two causes:
• In the upper and middle part of the central figure, the paint layer
presented significant cracking, causing areas to lift. This was more
than likely caused by the aging of materials and the effects of
fluctuations in temperature and humidity over time.
• In the lower part of the painting there were significant losses of the
paint and preparation layer and what remained of the paint layer was
in a very delicate state. This had occurred in areas that had been
previously treated. Therefore, in addition to the causes described
above, other factors have contributed to the delamination, such as
the materials used during previous treatment or the thickness of the
gesso used to fill the gaps that existed at that time.
The treatment used to remedy this problem was fixation with resins applied
with a hot spatula. This procedure was used to treat both the delamination
from the support and small deformations that had occurred in the fabric.
Once the entire surface had been treated, the canvas was cleaned,
removing the existing varnish and the remains of the resin. As an
intermediate layer, before the gesso, a layer of retouching varnish was
applied with a palette. Next, the losses of the paint and preparation layer
were filled with gesso and retouched.
As a final step, a light final coat of powdered varnish was applied.