Guerrero Conservation Project

Oil on Canvas Restoration – Ecuadorian Artist

Challenge

This project focused on a large-scale oil on canvas painting from the early 1970s by an Ecuadorian artist (a descendant of Filippo Lippi). The primary challenge was addressing severe structural damage: the painting had suffered a major fall, resulting in a significant, large tear through the center of the canvas.

Technical Solution

The conservation treatment focused on stabilizing the structural integrity of the canvas and renewing the aesthetic appearance of the painting:

• Tear Repair: The damaged fibers around the large tear were meticulously realigned and secured using specialized adhesives and techniques to ensure minimal visibility and maximum structural strength.

• Lining: The original canvas was adhered to a new secondary support (lining) to provide overall stability, ensure even tension, and reinforce the area of the tear repair.

• Cleaning: Following structural treatment, the painted surface underwent a careful cleaning process to remove accumulated surface grime and discolored varnish layers.

• Inpainting/Retouching: Final chromatic integration was performed over the tear repair and areas of paint loss to seamlessly restore the visual continuity of the artwork.

The Result and Images The intervention successfully repaired the structural damage caused by the fall, making the tear nearly imperceptible. The cleaning and lining processes reinforced the canvas and revived the original colors, securing the painting for future enjoyment.