Restoring Extreme Damage to this Victorian Portrait - Part 1
Feb 27, 2026 BLOOMFIELD ART | FINE ART RESTORATION | FRAMING
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.
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ABOUT Bloomfield Art & James Bloomfield Bloomfield Art specialise in all aspects of art restoration, oil easel painting restoration and fine art conservation. We offer fine art restoration and picture cleaning services across the North West of England, We also offer a National Painting Restoration service. Bloomfield Art is an associate member of the British Association of Paintings Conservators - Restorer's (BAPCR) . We have a selection of quality antique oils for sale please vivit our website to see our current stock, we offer free international shipping:
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We have completed art restoration work on behalf of Christies London, National Gallery Ireland, the NHS, local authorities, schools, churches and historic houses. We have also worked on paintings by Sir Terry Frost, Ambrose McAvoy, Mary Fedden, Kyffin Williams, Robert Lenkowiez, Helen Bradley, L.S Lowry, R.R. Reinagle, J.Hopner, W.Sant and many more. James Bloomfield is an accredited Art Restorer and Artist and has worked on 1000's of oil paintings. He was selected for the prestigious John Moores painting prize in 2012 and has his artworks in museum collections in the UK. He lives and works in Manchester England.
Bloomfield Art Restoration begins the extensive process of stabilizing a badly damaged 19th-century portrait. The video covers removing old, detrimental repairs and preparing the fragile canvas for a necessary relining.
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