Repair / Restore Advice Needed

[rue d'oak]

Yesterday my mother handed me a canvas of my grandmother's - a lovely landscape painted in 1948. Poorly stored, it needs a small bit of repair or restoration. Working in watercolor, I am at a loss as to how to best approach this.

The support is stretched canvas - cotton I assume -- and is 16 x 20.

My search for "restoration" led me to these threads, which help, but I think I need more direction. Any advice would be much appreciated.

old canvass I restored

cleaning

What I am understanding is that I
- can start with a gentle cleaning with good old soap and water
- need to use turpentine to test if there is old varnish, and if so to gently remove it and then replace it

There is one small spot -- about 1" x 1/4 " -- where the paint has been rubbed off. It is noticable, and I would like to repaint. I feel confident about my ability to carefully match the palette and technique. BUT I do not know what paint to buy. Suggestions? Here is a quick look via my scanner:




There is also some cracking -- just 4 long lines. Not sure if it was the way it was handled / stored or simply aging. I assume that I should just leave these cracks be.



Many thanks for your help!

Jen

[K. Henderson]

I've never had any luck with removing varnish from an old paining. I'd just clean it gently with ivory soap and water. If you decide to revarnish the painting after cleaning, I would use one that is removable

Any oil paint can be used to repaint the damaged spot although some would tell you that you should use the highest quality paint. That's up to you.

You can use a spray called "Tight 'N' Up" on the back of the canvas and it may make the cracks less noticeable.

I'm NOT an expert on repairing old paintings and I assume that your grandmother is not a famous artist. If it is a valuable painting it needs to be restored by an expert. But you know that.

[rue d'oak]

Many thanks for the advice. No, this painting is only valuable in terms of family sentiment. Well, and that it is a nice little composition. Grandmother was no slouch in her avocation. Definitely worthy of being called California School of American Impressionism. Her best pieces are of the mountains and oak trees around Pasadena circa 1940's. But as far as I know, known and seen only by family.

Ok, I'm going to start with a gentle soap/water cleaning, and get the minimum oil paint at my neighborhood art store to match the palette. As the cracks are not detracting, I'll keep the "Tight N' Up" in mind. I mainly have been concerned about slowing down the damage and deterioration.

Thanks again!
Jen

[gaugin]

Hi Jen, what a nice heirloom.
Hopefully you can preserve it for future generations.

I would at least talk to a conservator, even if their service is not in the your budget right now they can recommend ways to slow down any deterioration.

The fissures and cracks can be the result of several things. Breaking the fat over lean rule, poor canvas prep, being stored in a uncontrolled environment where temperatures took large swings or all of the above.

A conservator would recommend first to reline a large piece or mount it on a rigid support if smaller. The material they use is kind of a clay base paste adhesive that allows the natural contraction of the canvas and paint. For that reason I would be hesitate to use anything that artificially shrinks the weave of the canvas. Also if this work was done in 1948, the canvas was probably sized with rabbit skin glue. And a true gesso ground over it. I would be concerned about the rabbit sizing and a chemical spray.

Just my thoughts on your problem. Certainly do some home work, and any reputable conservator should give you some advice with out costing a arm and leg.