Marie Antoinette Conservation: Revealing the Controversial Queen's Portrait

Step into the Furniture Conservation Studio as Senior Conservator Kevin carefully and mindfully removes the frame from an original portrait of the controversial Queen of France, Marie Antoinette.

Dated 1773, the oil painting by court painter François Hubert Drouais depicts the last queen of France at age 17 – before the French Revolution and her almighty downfall and execution just 20 years later. Painted in Versailles, in Paris, France, the portrait shows the princess in a lavish necklace and court dress, adorned with sumptuous jewels.

Watch as Philip removes the painting's frame in order to send the portrait to the Science Conservation team for analysis. From examining the condition of the frame to gently prising it open, follow each step as we reveal the striking portrait.

00:00 How to unframe an old painting
00:57 Modified frame
01:27 Historic label
01:37 ASMR: removing brown gummed tape
04:01 ASMR: Peeling & slicing gummed tape with thin knife (no talking)
04:19 ASMR: Selecting tools and unscrewing screws (no talking)
04:56 Slotted vs Phillips screws
06:09 Slicing and peeling
06:27 ASMR: Prising the backboard up (no talking)
07:09 How to stop a painting offgassing
07:49 Stretcher, original stamp, fastenings
09:32 Removing foam padding
10:13 Revealing the portrait
10:55 ASMR: Safely storing the painting
11:10 Examining the frame
11:24 ASMR: Transporting the portrait for analysis