(1757 – 1837)
Hounds Finding Oil on canvas
49 x 72 cm
Acc. No: 1744

Condition: The overall appearance of the painting was very dark. The discolouration of the medium within the paint layer together with extensive retouchings contributed to this. A crack, 0,8 cm into the left hand side of the painting, runs down the whole side. This may possibly indicate that the painting was made of two canvases or that the canvas had been previously cut. The original tacking margin had been removed. Possibly the painting was originally a little larger. As the signature is seen in the lower left had area, it is unlikely that it would have extended lower.

Treatment: Removal of surface dirt was carried out with the appropriate reagent, following tests. Following further extensive testing, it was found that following varnish removal and overpaint removal, little of the original paint was present. Thus is was decided to thin the varnish using eltolene tissue and a mixture of carefully selected organic solvents. Dirt was removed from between the canvas and the stretcher bar. The back of the canvas and stretcher were cleaned. A brush conservation varnish was applied. Retouching was carried out in the areas of the drying cracks using restoration colours and a final varnish applied. The frame was cleaned and the painting was secured using brass plates. This treatment was carried out in 2004.