“Firetail� with his trainer by the rubbing –down
Acc. No: 1607
oil on panel
830 x 1015 mm

Previous Condition:
The support of this painting is an exceptionally beautiful and thick oak panel. Cradling was applied to the rear of the painting in later years to provide the panel with additional support and to safeguard it against cracking. It is reasonable to presume that the picture would also have been cleaned at this time, and a new natural resin varnish applied.

The overall appearance of the painting appears to have developed a strong-yellow patina due to the subsequent discolouration of the varnish. This in turn affected the original colours of the work, where the blue sky took on a greenish cast.


Conservation Treatment:
The treatment of this work was relatively simple. Surface dirt and the discoloured varnish were removed safely and effectively following tests. An isolating brush varnish with non-yellowing properties was then applied. Small damages were retouched using reversible colours, and a final conservation varnish was applied overall.