The Storming of the Swedish Fortress by Alexander Kotzebue (1846)
Oil on canvas, Military-Historical Museum (Saint Petersburg)
Before and after restoration:
Initial state:
The canvas had strong alterations and the whole paint surface was cracked. Large areas of paint were lifted from the canvas.
Done:
Paint surface was consolidated, back side was cleaned of dirt and old glue. Prior the lining all the deformations and planar distortions were treated with humidity and weights. After that all the deformed threads of the canvas were carefully realigned and the painting was consolidated in the damaged areas in order to achieve a perfectly flat surface. Finally the lining process was done, everything was held together again. Some filling and inpainting were done in the teared areas in order to completely conceal the damages. The canvas was stretched on the new stretcher frame. Paint surface was consolidated, cleaned of dirt and yellowed varnish. The painting has been varnished and retouched.
Work in progress:
