Repair of Damaged & Torn Paintings

Torn paintings may seem hopeless, but often even severe damage can be made nearly invisible with the proper repair. Water damage may loosen the ground, causing loss of paint or mold growth on the surface. The artist’s technique itself may also cause problems that put the painting at risk for significant damage. All of these issues can be addressed by our skilled conservators. Each damaged and skillfully repaired painting below represented a different challenge. The challenges have been met, and the paintings can be seen once again as the artist intended.

20th century acrylic on canvas, private collection, Florida, USA

The painting was lined. A Mylar interleaving was used the help hold the tear in place.

Floating Pyramids, pastel by Lawrence Tribe, 20th Century, Private collection. Washington, DC

The paper support was buckled and the front was covered with mold from water damage. The pastel was flattened and lined, the mold was removed and the damaged areas were inpainted.

Standing nude, oil on canvas, by Milton Avery, 20^th century, Private collection Connecticut, USA

The canvas was buckled and there was disfiguring sub-surface cracking in the white pigment. The painting was treated in a vapor tent to relax the paint film; the cracking paint film was then treated in a vacuum hot table with a favorable result.

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