The Conservation of the Jabach Portrait: Almost There!

Two horizontal paint losses in Anna Maria's drapery are first underpainted (at left) and then brought up to a full match in the second phase of the retouching (at right).

«The second and final phase of the retouching of the Jabach portrait—which has been undergoing conservation since July 2014—is virtually finished. This step brings the losses that had previously only been underpainted up to a full match with the surrounding original. Also, areas where the paint layer has been abraded in the past can be corrected.»

Following a final varnish, the painting will be photographed, framed, and then installed in the galleries. We are only a matter of a week or two away from the Jabach family finally being on public display here in New York!

The same process slightly lower down...

…and in the shoulder of the faithful hound.

In the white drapery around baby Heinrich, small losses and areas where the visual impact of the craquelure has been exaggerated by later abrasion are carefully retouched.

See all posts related to the Jabach painting.

Photographs by Michael Gallagher