PORTRAIT OF BETSEY FREEMAN

Artist Unknown, circa 1880

The portrait of Betsey Freeman, paired with husband Benjamin, looked fairly stable under normal light, similar to that of her mate.

As with her husband, raking light revealed instability in the canvas and paint layers.  Throughout the portrait, there was extensive cracking and cupping of paint and ground layers.

Unlike Benjamin, however, Betsey’s portrait had additional problems found beneath the discolored varnish.  Mold existed and over-cleaning occurred by an unskilled restorer in the past, resulting in paint loss on her face and neck.

The final restoration includes stabilization, reconsolidation, lining to a new canvas support, cleaning, varnish removal, inpainting followed by the application of conservation grade varnish as well as correction to frame installation.

Betsey Freeman has once again returned to her original dignified elegance.

Courtesy of the Brewster Historical Society