Artist unknown; early 19th century (?)
Early American Portrait of a Man
Oil on canvas | Private collection | New York City
Painting restoration: example of strip lining
Before painting restoration. There is a layer of yellowed varnish as well as dirt and grime on the painting's surface.
Before painting restoration. Tacking edges of the canvas are torn off or missing.
Before painting restoration. The surface of the painting, seen under a strong reflected light, shows the unevenness and creases in the canvas. Early "drying" cracks in the paint and ground layers (around and on the sitter's head) are also visible.
During painting restoration. After relaxing and flattening the canvas, its edges were reinforced by strips of a new canvas. The strips are attached with an adhesive to the back of the canvas (along the tacking edges). This method is known as strip lining.
During painting restoration. Detail of a tacking edge after the strip lining and restretching of the painting.
After painting restoration. Several small areas of the paint loss have been retouched. After the old varnish and surface dirt were removed, the painting was varnished again.