Blog | Fine Art Conservation Laboratories (FACL, Inc.)

Painting Restoration Testimonial from Salt Lake City of an Historic Portrait of George Washington

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Scott M. Haskins

Painted about 1800

This is something we see all the time in our painting conservation laboratory; someone accidentally pokes the 19^th century painting on canvas with very little effort and causes a hole or rip. Sometimes its amazing how fragile these paintings are.

Oil paintings on canvas from the 1800’s are very brittle… more brittle that any other period of art. This is because the additives into the fabric in order for them to be produced by industrial looms accelerates the deterioration by acids. I have in the lab canvas that is 200 years older that is 10 times stronger because it was made without the additives for mass production.

In the case of this “White House Quality” historical portrait of George Washington that was painted about 1800, the hanging wire which was a bit frayed, poked the art handler as it was being hung, the person reacted and accidentally hit against the portrait putting his elbow through the painting.

What might seem to have been a disaster, the owner chose to see the repair of the rip as a good excuse to have the painting cleaned of its yellowed varnish, have an historically appropriate frame made and to get a high tech light that would really show off his gorgeous artwork. As it was to be hung in a focal area of the home, it turned out to give a beautiful glow of quality to everything else in the room that he entertains in. Here is his testimonial:

We are often asked if we can cut costs by patching the rip. This option most always creates negative condition problems, sometime immediately and sometimes “down the road.” The patch sets up an uneven reaction of the canvas from humidity and heat setting into motion new cracking patterns and causing very often disfiguring bulges. In addition, the later removal of the patch can be problematic depending on how “permanent” the repairer meant it to be (it may be very hard to remove). In other words, you will be creating preservation problems almost immediately.

The distortion caused by patching a rip in an oil painting.

Many smaller rips can be repaired very nicely without a general lining and can even be made to be minimally visible from the back.

If you buy a painting with a patch and you want to properly preserve and restore the artwork, then you will have to pay for the removal of the previous repair person’s sins in addition to redoing it correctly.

Here is a link to a video on how a proper rip repair is performed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhhu0AZ_WVI

Note that this video offered 4 excellent tips for collectors to help determine the quality of the rip repair of an oil painting:

Realignment of ripped fibers must be exact – best done under a microscope
The fill or replacement of lost paint must be perfect and textured to match original surrounding paint
The inpainting colors (color matching of missing paint) must be exact in color and transparency
The gloss of the final result must be exactly like the surrounding areas.

Questions about your painting restoration interests? Call Scott M. Haskins, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon Art Conservators at 805 564 3438 faclartdoc@gmail.com

Posted in In Lab, Painting on canvas, Travel | Tagged rip repair testimonial | 4 Comments

Preservation and Restoration of a very cute 27 ft. mural, Animal Circus by Hubbel Reed McBride c.1940. Its lining and stabilization.

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Scott M. Haskins

I can’t imagine that anyone would want to destroy such a quality painting and fun subject matter as this painting. I’d like to share the fun subject matter of a mural that was saved from demolition in Denver, Colorado.

Detail left side of mural

Animal Circus by Hubbell Reed McBride was painted about 1940, oil on canvas adhered to a wall (marouflage). It is super cute in all its details, even when looking at it up close. Do a Google search for “Animal Circus Murals” and look at “images.” You won’t find anything that comes close in quality or being so cute (for kids of course!).

Our art conservation lab’s reputation for working on large paintings preceded the arrival of this mural to us. In fact, at the time we were just finishing up on the lining (backing) and conservation of three 30 ft paintings for the State of Texas.

So, this project is also unique in that our lab is one of very few that can line or back a 27 ft long painting… in the world. See the short video…

Animal Circus Mural Restoration, Lining a 27 ft painting. from Scott M. Haskins on Vimeo.

We preserving the condition and prepared it for reinstallation it will be stable for future generations to come. Stabilizing the cracking, flaking and giving the mural support so it won’t distort will insure its long life.

Animal Circus in the art conservation lab.

Over the decades, Fine Art Conservation Laboratories has collaborated with professional conservators all over the US, in Italy, England and Spain. We were pleased to collaboration and consult with Steven Prins, a veteran painting conservator of Santa Fe, New Mexico on this project.

FACL Educational video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3sZdUqeQnk

FACL’s mural capability statement:

https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/mural/

FACL’s mural consultation statement:

https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/consultations/

FACL’s mural conservation project videos on YouTube at

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE1FF71CC598A8E79

For FACL’s overview of mural conservation capabilities (videos):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld4l6EG8T-I&index=13&list=PLE1FF71CC598A8E79

Contact Info

Scott M. Haskins, Virginia Panizzon, Oriana Montemurro

Art Conservators

805 570 4140 mobile, 805 564 3438 office

faclartdoc@gmail.com

HR McBride (1892-1960)

As a boy Hubbell grew up in Mansfield, Ohio and developed a talent for drawing animals that made people smile. He took that art and touched the lives of millions of people. His whimsical paintings consistently made the cover of several best-selling national magazines, which took his career to New York. But, it seems, he walked away from his successful illustrator’s career to spend his life in rural America to the delight of everyone in that part of the country.

Cartoon farm animals were undoubtedly a favorite even from his very earliest works. Drawings captured funny faces of the animals he knew with characteristic whimsical personalities.

After high school, he found a job in Cleveland making illustrations for a newspaper syndicate, but when they let him go after a year he had gained enough confidence to try the big market in New York. Becoming friends the founder of Editor and Publisher magazine, he was connected through the industry and for the next 25 years he distinguished himself as cover artist and illustrator for several top Hearst publications like Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping, as well as the Saturday Evening Post and Liberty & Collier’s Weekly Magazine.

The Animal Circus mural in this article was commissioned for a children’s mural in a home on Park Avenue West in the 1940s. Fortunately he painted it on canvas that was ripped off the wall when the building was demolished. Though badly damaged with the inept removal technique, it survived till it could get professional mural conservation treatments.

His work is easily recognizable for its warm humor, and for animals with memorable personality. With a wealth of experience in graphic arts, Reed was a gift to the community in the 40s and 50s, painting a wide canvas of all sorts: from sacred scenes in the First Congregational Church in Lexington, to background drops for the Mansfield Players and Children’s Theater.

In the 1940s Reed McBride painted several murals in Richland County that became well-known landmarks in stores, churches and the Municipal Building. This is the one he created for the Ven-Mar market on Marion Avenue.

Ven-Mar market murals by HR McBride

Posted in Travel | Tagged mural restoration | 4 Comments

Art Conservation Restoration Expert? “Have you worked for any institutions?”

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Scott M. Haskins

There are only a few labs in the world that can handle the lining of a 30 ft painting… we did three for the State of Texas.

A New York art dealer has a client that needs some art conservation help in Utah and after looking over my resume wrote me that, yes, they had seen where we’ve done work for the Fine Arts Museum in SF and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art but had we worked with any other institutions? So, I dictated for her a quick list off the top of my head:

“The City of San Francisco, New Asian Art Museum, numerous art galleries in San Francisco, The Oakland Museum, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oakland, the City of Monterey, Monterey Maritime Museum, Monterey Museum of Art, the City of Carmel, several historical houses in the Carmel Monterey area, the University of California at Santa Barbara Art Museum, The Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara Mission Archive and Library, the Santa Barbara Historical Society, Santa Barbara Historical Museum, numerous historical houses in the Santa Barbara area, Oxnard public library system, the City of Ventura, Bank of America Corporation in Los Angeles, the City of Westwood, the city of Santa Monica, Los Angeles Convention Center, the Jonathan Club, the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles, The City of Los Angeles, Caltrans, the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the Getty Conservation Institute Special Projects Division, The University of California at Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, The Japanese American National Museum, numerous historical houses in the Los Angeles area, the Bowers Museum, the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, the City of Newport, The City of Laguna Beach, Mission San Juan Capistrano, the City of Las Vegas, the State of Utah, This Is The Place Monument in Salt Lake City, Brigham Young University, the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints headquarters in Salt Lake City for five different departments, Daughters of Utah Pioneers International Museum Plus several of their small town local museums, Fort Brigg El Paso Texas Army Base, Edwards Air Force Base in California, the Coast Guard exhibit center in Maryland, Fort Wood Army Base in Missouri, Port Hueneme Naval Base in California, The City of Cedar Rapids Iowa, the General Services Administration in Pennsylvania Washington DC New Mexico California Texas Georgia, The City of Dallas, the State of Texas, Texas State University, Texas Southern University, Fair Park Dallas Texas, the City of New Orleans…

On our website there is a link in the navigation bar for Mural Projects and another link for Consultation Projects. This is a list off the top of my head. I’m sure I’ve forgotten many others that we’ve served over the last 40 years.”

Do you think they can trust us to give them reliable information about their artwork?

A thank you after our work at Edwards Air Force Base

Questions? Call Scott M. Haskins, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon Art Conservators 805 564 3438 faclartdoc@gmail.com

Posted in Consulation, Professional activities | Tagged art restoration | 3 Comments

Thomas Fire and Mudslides- Saving Family Treasures

Posted on January 14, 2018 by Scott M. Haskins

There are family heirlooms, art, antiques, family history items and treasures that can still be saved and preserved in very good condition in a house that is in this situation! Use care in the removal process. Their preservation can make all the difference for the owners in emotionally recouping from this disaster for years/decades to come. Wow, what a photo above!

Don’t know what to do, need help with questions about insurance claims? ProBono, expert art conservation advice. https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/disaster-emergency-response/smoke-damage-restoration-of-artwork-antiques-and-collectibles/

Call me on my mobile. Scott M. Haskins 805 570 4140

This mudslide in Montecito, CA was the result of extensive fires in the mountains above the city. When the rains came soon after, all of this came down onto the residential area.

The Thomas Fire in the Ventura and Santa Barbara areas at the end of 2017 was classified as the largest wildfire (acreage) in the history of California. Over 1000 structures were lost in the firestorm driven by 40-70 mph winds in the backcountry which threatened densely populated areas prompting the mandatory evacuation of more than 16,000 residents with many more voluntarily leaving for more that a couple of weeks. Even though the fire was not driven into the cities, the wind blew smoke and ash onto 100,000s of local residents and polluted skies northward past San Francisco, 600 miles away.

Within about a week from the advancement of the most dangerous onslaught of the fire’s advancement, 6″ of rain in the mountains unleashed a horrific mudslide pushing before it boulders, autos, trees and you can image what else mostly doing to damage in the Montecito suburb and closing the main artery 101 freeway for weeks. The mud slid, basically, from the mountains and hills to the beaches.

Fine Art Conservation Laboratories has a special division of services to offer to disaster response companies, insurance companies and directly to collectors and owners to help respond professionally to the care, restoration and conservation of artwork, collectibles, keepsakes and antiques: Here’s a quick video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr9CEqBQCEA

We got our first call from a resident in the mudslide area today; 3 ft of mud… in the house! Unbelievably, they got out with the bare minimum… and their favorite painting… but there is a house of family memories to save as soon as they (and we) are let back in.

The mud on this painting smells like sewage. Its always a good precaution to protect your health when handling items from a mudslide in inhabited areas.

The mud etc can be removed safely from this artwork and is completely recoverable. Another day has passed and I’ve inspected about 25 works of art, all cleanable and can be returned to pre-disaster condition.

Scott M. Haskins, Virginia Panizzon, Oriana Montemurro

Art Conservators

805 564 3438 office faclartdoc@gmail.com

Posted in Disaster/Emergency Response | Tagged art salvage, family heirlooms, fine art insurance claims | 3 Comments

Smoke Damage Restoration of Artwork, Antiques and Collectibles

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Scott M. Haskins

The Thomas Fire in the Ventura and Santa Barbara areas at the end of 2017 was classified as the largest wildfire (acreage) in the history of California. Over 1000 structures were lost in the firestorm driven by 40-70 mph winds in the backcountry which threatened densely populated areas prompting the mandatory evacuation of more than 16,000 residents with many more voluntarily leaving for more that a couple of weeks. Even though the fire was not driven into the cities, the wind blew smoke and ash onto 100,000s of local residents and polluted skies northward past San Francisco, 600 miles away. Fine Art Conservation Laboratories has a special division of services to offer to disaster response companies, insurance companies and directly to collectors and owners to help respond professionally to the care, restoration and conservation of artwork, collectibles, keepsakes and antiques: Here’s a quick video:

Watch this video on YouTube

Just today we have processed a dozen or so requests for evaluations and inspections of smoked artwork, sculptures, family photos, model train sets, ceramics and collectibles… all of the cherished items that make up a family’s heritage and history.

Once such family has been in the railroad business for 4 generations and you can image that connection they feel with their family’s memorabilia! What a heartbreak to see the damage but what a wonderful moment to share with them how everything can be cleaned up to good and new.

We help compile inventories and reports for insurance reporting.

We can re-hang the artwork and secure art objects for seismic safety.

We are prepared to handle the logistics and treatments of many items at once. We are easy to communicate with and we can provide door to door service even over long distances.

Let’s Talk! Contact us: Scott M. Haskins, Andrew Jacobs 805 564 3438 office, 805 570 4140 mobile, faclartdoc@gmail.com

This painting required a double cleaning in order to remove the smoke and debris “safely.” No original paint was removed and the full value was returned.

Here are some testimonials and examples

of our work with other disaster response companies:

Smoke Damage (Testimonial): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMPlQ90iJtc

Water Damage (Testimonial Mrs. Dau): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Umg_5trfe8

Water Damage (Testimonial Las Vegas): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_YupoIRRcs

Damage in Storage – Rip Repair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Jxozdtl0w

Expert Author – Tom Antion Hurricane Testimonial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwBbcAF-j8A

Water Damaged Paintings: https://animoto.com/play/YGtMXOyRkR8Z0Y8QPx4gsw

Water damaged art treatment – blog: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/in-lab/art-damaged-over-and-over/

Smoke Damage – Elite Restoration – Blog Post: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/travel/smoke-damage-on-artwork-we-work-as-a-sub-to-disaster-response-companies/

Let’s Talk! Contact us:

Scott M. Haskins, Andrew Jacobs

805 564 3438 office, 805 570 4140 mobile,

faclartdoc@gmail.com

Posted in Disaster/Emergency Response | Tagged smoke damage | 19 Comments

Cleaning a painting with smoke damage 30 sec video

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Scott M. Haskins

Cleaning smoke damage from artwork, other framed items and collectibles is a service we routinely take care of. Paintings are often darkened by discolored varnish too. This gorgeous tonalist vintage painting, about 1920, by Granville Redmond re-emerges from the darkness to its former glory. It glowed after we cleaned it and put the conservation grade varnish layers of it.

Questions about cleaning a painting?

Scott M. Haskins, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon – Art Conservators

805 564 3438

faclartdoc@gmail.com

#ArtConservation #ArtRestoration #PaintingConservation #PaintingRestoration

Watch this video on YouTube

Posted in Disaster/Emergency Response, In Lab, Painting on canvas | Tagged cleaning a painting, painting restoration | 20 Comments

Can Botched, Over-Restored Art (repainted) Be Saved? Clean an oil painting

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Scott M. Haskins

Wonder Woman has been busy lately saving the world and now she’s doing art restoration on ancient statues at the Met and saving the world’s heritage too. I’m glad that she sees saving our heritage as an important work worthy of her time and she’s amazing at beating up the bad guys but would you want her “delicate touch” and “trained eye” to restore your artwork?! I don’t recall that education or experience being part of her training on the hidden lost island of Amazon Warrior Women.

Lots of well-intentioned people think that restoring artwork is like “fixing” anything else. Art restorationists with a traditional craftsman background usually have no idea why they use certain materials or do certain techniques other than “that’s the way its always been done.” That’s always been a recipe for disaster. It is common that something horrific usually happens when do-it-your-selfers start restoring historical items (there are standards, guidelines, ethics to follow). Chief culprits are artists who think that because they can paint a painting, they can restore any painting. Their restorations can have severe consequences for the value of the artwork.

These untrained, undisciplined restorers have no idea why works of art fall apart. And, of course, they have no idea as to the aging problems of the materials/supplies they use for restoring. But most importantly, they don’t honor or respect the original creation, historical value or aesthetics, even if they are flawed (in their opinion).

The above photos got viral international internet fame when the painting on the left was restored – the final result is on the right. Yes, this is THE ACTUAL APPEARANCE OF THE artwork AFTER RESTORATION!! You might say, “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!!!” This got a lot of outrage…. and then hilarious parody responses from the public…

Before and After Restoration of Warhol’s Iconic Marilyn

What some people are afraid of if they restore the “Giaconda.”

Artists put their own vibe on other artist’s artwork they restore

This makes me feel like someone stole Christmas.

You may think this is funny!

But the sad thing is that this type of art restoration happens all the time!

We just returned this completed portrait to her family a short time ago…

On the left is the photo of how the painting looked AFTER restoration when it came back from a “professional” Russian restorer in the Los Angeles area not long ago! IT DIDN’T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THEIR GRANDMOTHER! As you might imagine, the family was crushed, as they thought the original, cherished oil painting of their dear grandmother was damaged beyond repair and lost forever. On the right is our after-restoration photo of the ancestral portrait, AFTER all the previous “restoration” was removed and the original portrait was recuperated. You should have seen the owner’s/family’s faces!

Here’s another sad previous restoration of an exquisite Spanish Colonial painting in the Franciscan archives of California. Even though the restoration looks dark and sad, at least it remotely looks like the original! The photo on the left is the restored, repainted old master. After we cleaned off all the repainting to re-reveal the original, we then properly stabilized deterioration, cleaned the underlying “gunk,” carefully and discretely inpainted only the paint losses, being careful to not slop over onto the original. Conservation grade varnish layers allowed the painting to glow and look its best. The photo on the right of the face shows the final results after conservation. Look how many wonderful details reappeared!!!

Repainting a work of art as an excuse for “restoration” is, of course something that kills the value of the original: Its no longer by the artist, its no longer from the period or age of the original… its killed.

The details of restorations that involve repainting can often be sorted out to a certain degree with analysis.

You may have heard that the Charles Dickens Museum in London was excited to find out that they own an original portrait by an important Victorian artist. The bad news is that it is almost entirely hidden under later overpainting. Heavy overpainting across most of the surface, covers up to 70% of the original including most of the face. The painting is believed to be an attempt to mask the damage caused by an equally disastrous attempt to clean the picture, long before it came to the museum.

The picture has been subjected to extensive tests at the Hamilton Kerr Institute, the conservation department of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. X-radiography, ultraviolet visible fluorescence and infrared reflectography (which we do in our lab) were used to see the underlying details better.

For more on IR, click here: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/research-and-authentication/lost-leonardo-searched-for-with-infrared-its-also-used-to-help-art-collectors-find-lost-signatures-–-a-short-video/

For in on UV, click here: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/research-and-authentication/analysis-of-art-can-reveal-hidden-details-important-to-authentication-and-value/

Cindy Sughrue, director of the museum, hopes to raise the money for full restoration of the painting. “This has been an interesting process to say the least, and one that has seen us swinging from despair to elation.”

“Anyone could see looking at it that it wasn’t quite right – one conservator commented that she looks more like a southern belle – but until we got the scans back it was hard to say exactly what had happened to it,” Price said. “It’s a great relief to know that most of the original painting is still there and we should be able to recover it.”

Thomas Rebok, Art Conservator in S. Africa: https://www.fine-art-restoration.co.za photographed the removal of one portrait from off of another portrait.

To discuss the value of your painting, call my friend Scot Levitt at Bonhams Auction House in Los Angeles. Tell him Scott Haskins sent you. I promise, he’ll be nice to you! 323 436 5425 scot.levitt@bonhams.com

Art conservation – restoration questions? Call Scott M. Haskins, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon – Painting Conservators 805 564 3438 faclartdoc@gmail.com

Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate, Certified Appraiser 805 895 5121

See a tour of Fine Art Conservation Laboratories (CLICK HERE)

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In the news recently: the past restoration work on the painting Salvador Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci was so extensive and poorly done that it was no longer attributed to him. The only way to recoup the value? Remove all the restorations and see what was left by the Master. Photo on left is the painting after the past restorations were removed; photo on right is after the careful and excellent quality recent painting conservation treatments that allowed for the artwork to sell at Christies in Nov. 2017 for $430 million.

Salvador Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci – Before and After Final Painting Conservation Treatments before the sale

We know you have comments after this reading this article – leave a comment below!!! Give the article a THUMBS UP!

Posted in Painting on canvas, Research and Authentication | Tagged cleaning a painting | 16 Comments

Lining Large Paintings Highlighted by American Institute for the Conservation of historic and Artistic Works

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Scott M. Haskins

An action photo of the lining process (art restoration treatment) of three 30′ paintings in this month’s header of the Facebook page of the AIC, highlighted the art conservation practice of Fine Art Conservation Laboratories. Independent art conservators are represented within AIC in an organization, Conservators in Private Practice (CIPP) and have businesses ranging from sole proprietorships to large companies, they provide support for clients such as artists, private collectors, galleries, corporations, museums, universities, and governmental agencies.

September’s cover image features AIC Professional Associate Scott Haskins (left) of Fine Art Conservation Laboratories, Inc., who is also a former chair (for 6 years) of the CIPP specialty group. In the image, conservation professionals are lining three sections of the the previously detached 280′ long mural by Buck Winn, “The History of Ranching in Texas”. The murals are in the collection of the Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

The three 30′ sections of the mural required lead abatement, paint consolidation, distortion removal, rip repairs, lining, cleaning, fills and inpainting, and varnishing. FACL, Inc. is certified for toxic materials abatement such as lead and asbestos. There are several videos on YouTube that show the detaching process of murals and their reinstallation options. Here is the YouTube channel for mural restoration videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE1FF71CC598A8E79

Haskins worked with painting conservators Julie Stephenson, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon and conservation technicians Diane Stevenett and Daniel Masters (who are also featured in the above image). More information on the project and a short video can be found here: https://www.fineartconservationlab.com/murals/the-art-restoration-of-texass-most-famous-lost-public-art-by-the-most-famous-texan-artist-you-never-heard-of/

Oriana Montemurro inpainting murals by historic Texas artist, Buck Winn.

Contact info:

Scott M. Haskins, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon Art Conservators

805 564 3438 faclartdoc@gmail.com

Videos showing the work of Fine Art Conservation Laboratories
If you live in Los Angeles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5K5CIUWVp8
If you live in Orange County: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHo5A9L_rVA
If you live in Los Vegas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6h-cU3TWD8
If you live in Salt Lake City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COuMshFt9ek

#muralrestorationexpert #muralconservation #kenttwitchell #ScottMHaskins #antigraffiti #protectpublicart #artconservation #artrestoration #paintingrestoration #paintingconservation #fineartconservationlab #mural #publicart @kenttwitchell @muralsinthemarket @muralarts @muralfestival #murals @muralistanbul @muralsoflajolla @muralsdc @muralsofnashville @muralsofphoenix @muralsoftheworld @muralsoflascruces @muralsofcincinnati @lamuralseries @themcla #muralconservancyoflosangeles #muralart #muralarts #dipintimurali @fineartconservationlab

Posted in In Lab, Murals | Tagged mural restoration, Texas State University | 2 Comments

Seville Golden Age of Spanish Painting at the Museum of Fine Arts

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Scott M. Haskins

Watch this video on YouTube

By Scott M. Haskins, Fine Art Conservator

I invite you to come along with me on a recent trip to Seville, Spain. On this trip I was hoping to see and expecting to see the exquisite paintings of the Spanish Golden Age of Painting (1500’s and 1600’s and even the 1700’s)… rooted in Sevilla. Infact, it could be called the Seville Golden Age of Painting because so many of the artists were from that city.

We loved our first visit to Sevilla but as we explored the city, I was continually aware and surprised to not find any of these quality Baroque paintings that Spain is famous for. In particular, I was surprised that in the spectacularly huge Gothic main cathedral there was only one very ho-hum Murillo displayed very poorly, nor in the Alcazar royal fortress residence was there anything to talk about, nor in the Archives of the Indies… nor in any other public buildings we visited! But, note please, all future visitors to Seville, the location of these 3 sites is AMAZING and was registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Site.”

The Cathedral in Seville (I’m taking the picture from the roof-foreground), The Alcazar Fortress – Royal Residence (left), The Archives of the Indies (right, next to the cathedral)

So, not having found yet what I was anticipating, I was still hopeful to find the masterpieces I was looking for at the Seville Museum of Fine Arts. Located in the old converted convent (which is very nice and is laid out like a palace) you would think that the museum would be full of these world famous master’s work… We wandered around and I was completely underwhelmed… although the architecture was nice, where was all the great art?!?!?!

At one point we opened, what I remember was an unassuming, unmarked door and unexpectedly entered directly into the central nave of a full sized chapel buried in the middle of the palace structure, completely unannounced by the outside architecture. This full sized church seemed, to me, to be camouflaged by the rest of the surrounding building! I was so surprised!

The most beautiful exhibition I’ve ever seen!

And then, I was immediately hit with a vision of beauty! It impressed me as being possibly the most beautiful exhibition of artwork that I have EVER seen!!! The architecture was stunning, the abundant lighting was perfect and evenly lit. The masters of Spain’s Golden Age of Painting were represented here with the gorgeously framed artwork of religious subjects. There were choice works by artists such as El Greco, de Zuberan, Velazquez, Murillo and many others – these were but a few of the great 16th and 17th century masters whose genius set a standard of excellence for centuries. Their great religious works were perfect for this deconsecrated exhibition space and environment.

If you love fine art and are going to be in Seville, Spain, do yourself a favor and visit this unique, world class, spectacular exhibition space and soak in the Spanish Golden Age of Painting. If you are in the mood and aware of its special nature, you will be rewarded for your effort and your recollection of the exhibition in the future will enrich your memories. Take lots of pictures… put they won’t come close to doing it justice or giving you the goose bumps on your arms, like when I walked in.

Contact us to discuss your painting restoration questions! Scott M. Haskins, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon, Art Conservators 805 564 3438, faclartdoc@gmail.com

Below are other videos with Scott M. Haskins, Fine Art Conservator as he travels to special projects and locations. If you like these videos, please leave a comment below the video and give it a thumbs up, please.

Palazzolo, Iseo Lake, Italy – Rediscovering 1000 years of murals, Consultation Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQSxjAzSUA&index=5&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&spfreload=10

Lonato, Italy Baroque Mural Conservation Project- Notes for Italian Ministry of Tourism from the area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1wgLnF3VMc&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&index=16

Tintoretto Paintings Exhibit (Baroque Art) in Rome Italy – Walk Through with Art Conservator Scott Haskins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO9myPDaA3A&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&index=12&spfreload=10

Tintoretto’s (Baroque Artist) Neighborhood, Venice Italy – Walk Through with Art Conservator Scott Haskins:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OgZ1k-t-Ks&index=9&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&spfreload=10

Walk through the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF3QaJihNS8&index=10&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&spfreload=10

Royal Carriages of Princesses, Queens, Kings and Popes in Rome, Italy – Discover behind the scenes info.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-hKGLzT_u0&index=11&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&spfreload=10

Philadelphia Museum of Art – Walk through with Art Conservator Scott Haskins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFULHuqJ6kw&index=13&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9

Art Highlights Tour From Trip To Chicago 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvyAHq21QWc&index=14&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&spfreload=10

LDS Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrAntB8ELKU&index=3&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&spfreload=10

Portuguese tile work – a visit to an avid collector in Los Angeles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2Yfgd2G3ok&list=PLLxFeD9MHd7TfXUSaSm4vOWWiminNvnf9&index=4&spfreload=10

#BaroqueArt, #SpainsGoldenAge, #BaroquePaintings, #ArtConservation, #PaintingConservation, #PaintingRestoration, #FineArtConservationLab, #SevilleMuseumOfFineArts,

Posted in Travel | Tagged Baroque Art, world class art | 10 Comments

Painting Restoration Testimonial from Salt Lake City of an Historic Portrait of George Washington

Preservation and Restoration of a very cute 27 ft. mural, Animal Circus by Hubbel Reed McBride c.1940. Its lining and stabilization.

Art Conservation Restoration Expert? “Have you worked for any institutions?”

Thomas Fire and Mudslides- Saving Family Treasures

Smoke Damage Restoration of Artwork, Antiques and Collectibles

Cleaning a painting with smoke damage 30 sec video

Can Botched, Over-Restored Art (repainted) Be Saved? Clean an oil painting

The details of restorations that involve repainting can often be sorted out to a certain degree with analysis.

Thomas Rebok, Art Conservator in S. Africa: https://www.fine-art-restoration.co.za photographed the removal of one portrait from off of another portrait.

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Lining Large Paintings Highlighted by American Institute for the Conservation of historic and Artistic Works

Seville Golden Age of Spanish Painting at the Museum of Fine Arts

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