The Charm of Restoration

The Magic of Restoration

We know little about the painting itself, other than that it dates from 1618 and the mysterious “lady in red” was 36 years old when the portrait was created. In his videos, Mold removes the protective varnish used to protect the paint, which yellows or darkens over time. The varnish on this particular painting is estimated to be as much as 200 years old. For restorers, removing old varnish to restore the artwork’s original colors is standard practice.

Oil paints are oil-based, which means they cannot be thinned with water. Soft synthetic brushes are commonly used to apply them to a canvas. The paints are thinned with oils such as poppy seed oil, linseed oil, or turpentine. To prevent the paint from yellowing quickly, I recommend using turpentine. The most practical way to fix the painting is with spray varnish for oil paints, as it provides thorough, even coverage over the entire canvas.

It is not clear what products Mold uses in his videos, but one of the most appealing tips is to use turpentine mixed with other solvents that will not break down the oil paint beneath the topcoat of varnish.

But like any job, this one requires experience, good products, and patience. Restoration teams include historians, artists, and chemists who carefully examine paintings to determine what varnish was used and how to dissolve it. Using test patches, they find out which solvents can remove the yellowed varnish without damaging the original painting.

I hope Mr. Mold will continue this fascinating work and bring more forgotten masterpieces back to life. For now, all we can do is watch and look forward to the return of “the lady in red.”

I wish you lots of creativity, inspiration, and enthusiasm for your work.

Your faithful friend, Sabína.