Removing 150 Years of Repairs | Victorian Portrait Restoration - Part 1

This 19th-century portrait was likely painted between 1845 and 1865, during the reign of Queen Victoria. At first glance, it appears to be a restrained Victorian gentleman — but the reverse tells a different story.

Large tears, multiple historic repairs, brittle canvas, and a hole large enough to put a finger through… this painting has survived more than one accident over the past 150 years.

In this first episode of a three-part restoration, I begin by examining the structural condition under UV light, removing the painting from its stretcher, carefully lifting old patch repairs, clearing residual animal glues, and preparing the canvas for relining.

Before any cleaning or retouching can begin, the structure must be stabilised.This is the forensic stage, understanding what happened, and deciding how best to intervene.

Part 2 will focus on relining, and the first stages of cleaning.