PORTRAIT OF A SEA CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER

China Trade Artist Unknown, Shanghai, circa 1880

This portrait of a sea captain’s daughter, circa 1880, was commissioned in Shanghai by a Nantucket sea captain.  The unknown artist most likely used a daguerreotype to create the portrait.  Painted on a fine silk canvas, the painting was punctured while in storage.  It was believed the missing piece of canvas was lost forever.

Fortunately, the section containing the girl’s nose and mouth was found wedged between the canvas and wooden stretcher.  Following humidification treatment, the missing piece was pre-flattened and returned to its original place.  The entire painting was then lined to a new canvas and fully stabilized.  The lining adhesive used is reversible so that the painting can be easily removed should this be necessary in the future.   At this stage, minor losses were then filled and the tear was restored using reversible paint medium.  The painting was then varnished using a conservation grade varnish.

The finished restoration shows no sign of a torn canvas.  The craquelure, a desirable and distinguishing feature common in China Trade paintings, remains visible yet is fully stabilized.  After consulting with the owners of the portrait, it was decided that a small portion of the craquelure would be inpainted in order to conceal the most visually distracting portion of the painting.