Basic Information about the Artwork

Author: Paul Moreelse
Technique: Oil painting on canvas
Dimensions: 77 cm x 64 cm

Condition of the Artwork Before Restoration

The canvas backing of the painting was previously reinforced, likely with a wax-resin mixture. Around the edges, degraded paper adhesive tape covers the canvas, revealing that the original fabric is separating from the reinforcement. The original canvas is brittle, fragile, missing in some areas, cracked, or loose. The stretcher frame is rectangular with wedges. The back of the painting is covered in a thick layer of dirt.

We can see wax stains and drips on the upper part of the painting, while white paint streaks are present in the lower section. The decorative frame is new, and removing it reveals significant warping of the stretcher frame.

The paint layer shows cracking and is loose in some places, with small areas of missing paint. Under UV light, some localized retouching becomes visible through the degraded and yellowed varnish, which alters the original color tones. Along the edges of the painting, where the decorative frame previously covered it, there are fewer varnish layers with a distinct bluish UV fluorescence.

There are also stains, flyspecks, and other dirt on the surface. Both sides of the painting are coated with a layer of surface grime.