Re-Lining or Transferring the Painting
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Transferral of the painting to a new base is mainly done with paintings on wood panels, which are deteriorated to a level where the need to put the painting on another more stable panel cannot be avoided.
Canvas backed painting are generally just re-lined, which is the placement of a new canvas over the old one, although the old canvas is often thinned by sanding some of the old canvas away.
Both processes start by the application of paper onto the paint, thus providing a stable environment for the paint during those processes.
One starts by applying first a layer of soft paper, like tissue paper with paste.
After the first layer is successfully adhered to the paint it is strengthened by applying a layer of gauze, then one applies a layer of supple stronger paper, followed by layers of heavier papers.
Make sure that the surface of the paper becomes flat so that if one lays the painting down it doesn't bend, for extra strength one can finish of with a layer of canvas.
Let the paper layers dry thoroughly, and if the painting is on canvas remove carefully from the stretchers.
The timber can now be removed from the paint either carefully with a router making first grooves across the panel after which the timber in between is removed leaving enough timber so as not to damage the paint.
Or by sawing kerfs across the painting and removing the timber in between by careful splitting, leaving enough timber so as not to damage the paint.
The rest of the timber is best removed with a sharp slightly rounded gouge, sharpened so that the outsides cut the timber before the center, this way one can cut across the timber while cutting still along the grain, thus avoiding breakout.
Once all the timber is removed one can carefully remove the ground if necessary and have then the unique opportunity to view the picture from the obverse site.
The painting may now be cemented to an inert board or Treated Balsawood Panel for support.
After cooling the pasted paper and canvas can be removed with water by carefully dampening and removing bit by bit. |
