Antonio Jacobsen

PORTRAIT OF THE AMERICAN YACHT WASHINGTON

This large painting by Antonio Jacobsen had been carelessly stored in an attic for decades. The canvas became very dry and brittle and was covered in heavy soot. There were punctures, dents and tears scattered throughout the canvas. A complete restoration was required including stabilization, lining to a new canvas support, removal of soot and discolored varnish, replacement of the ground layer (gesso) where needed as well as inpainting to all areas of paint loss followed by a conservation grade varnish.

ANTONIO JACOBSEN: DETAIL

One of the many challenges in restoring ship portraits is cleaning the delicate and potentially problematic rigging on the ship and sails. The original paint was customarily applied with brushes that were hair thin, and can be easily removed during cleaning.  Finding a qualified conservator for the job is of vital importance to properly preserve the beauty and integrity of your art.