Surface restoration

Meeting with the paintings conservator

We have visited the paintings conservator to begin the journey of the surface restoration. To get an idea of the size and complexity of the project the conservator needed to test clean the surface on a few places. The result was exciting, for example, one can now see an original leaf in the laurel wreath and also individual strands of hair in the eyebrow, but the most important revelation was the artistic quality evident in Domitian’s face: the skin’s smooth transition from light to shadow.

Further down the page is an attempt to ”digitally remove” the varnish on the painting.

A light blue grey color was revealed after the old varnish was partially removed on a small area of Domitian’s cuirass.
Photomicrograph of the partially cleaned area. The brownish colored varnish is still present on top of the light blue grey color. Pigments visible in the image are: Orange/yellow, blue, red, green and white. We have not yet been able to identify the blue pigments in this area.
Before cleaning of the area inside the grey square on Domitian’s face.
After cleaning of the area inside the grey square. Notice the skin’s smooth transition from light to shadow.

The result of the surface restoration will be posted in July.

Before restoration. Photo: Helena Christerdotter.
An attempt to ”digitally remove” the varnish, based on the blue color of the cuirass. When the varnish is removed, the left side of the painting will be brighter than in the image above as the varnish is thicker there and the colors will become stronger across the entire painting.
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Roman emperor Domitian, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Tizian, Tiziano Vecellio, Roman emperors, Eleven Caesars, Undici Cesari, Domitianus, Isabella d’Este, Federico II Gonzaga, Mantova, Mantua, Italy, Francis I, Amboise France, Charles I England.