CONSERVING A PAINTING ON A WOODEN PANEL

George Stubbs, ARA (1756-1806)
“Firetail” with his trainer by the rubbingdown house at Newmarket Heath (1773)
oil on panel
Acc. No: 1607

Earlier condition: “Firetail”was painted on a solid oak panel of very high quality. Later, a very fine and complex flexible cradling system was applied in the early 1900s as the panel was cracking in three places. This was a method used in earlier conservation to provide support to arrest further cracking.

Current treatment: Following tests the surface dirt and varnish were removed safely and effectively with the appropriate reagent and solvent. The varnish was not original but had been applied in a conservation treatment in the early to mid-1900’s. Solvent tests were carried out to remove the over paint and following this it was possible to remove most of the retouchings. The remaining retouchings where reduced mechanically under high magnification. An isolating conservation varnish was applied, the losses were retouched using reversible colours and a final varnish applied. Small damages to the frame were repaired and velvet ribbon was applied to the rebate of the frame. The painting was secured in the frame using flexible brass plates.