Here's an extreme example of a half surface cleaned painting that was exposed to cigarette smoke for almost a half a century. The owner remembered it being white when he purchased it. Cleaning required the use of a specially formulated chelator and a great deal of patience to safely remove the nicotine and grime layer by layer.
This painting by Hudson River School artist Robert Walter Weir was brought to address lifting painting and cleaning.
The lifting paint was stabilized and set in plane through the application of local consolidation and hot air tool. A silicon tipped tool was used to manipulate the surface during the process.
After a series of tests, a thick layer of discolored varnish was removed using cotton swabs and an appropriate solvent. Previous retouching was also removed during this process. (left side cleaned)
A synthetic layer of non-yellowing varnish with similar visual characteristics was applied to the surface saturating the darks. Areas of previous retouching were inpainted using reversible conservation paints. A final spray coat of varnish was applied to even out the surface and act as a protective barrier.
Datum Fine Art Conservation recently completed restoration of the outdoor mural "History of Women in Northampton 1600-1980" in Northampton MA along with the Hestia Art Collective.
