Mask and Wig Club Conservation Project

Maxfield Parrish Caricature Conservation – Philadelphia, PA (Conservation project carried out in collaboration with Evergreene Architectural Arts)

Challenge

The primary challenge involved the urgent rescue of two historic caricatures by the renowned artist Maxfield Parrish. The artworks, executed as oil paintings on plaster, had suffered extensive degradation from a fire and were further compromised by several previous, unsuccessful restoration attempts that obscured the artist's original hand.

Technical Solution

• Cleaning and Consolidation: The murals underwent a meticulous cleaning process to remove soot, fire debris, and layers of aged, non-original restoration materials. The oil-on-plaster layers were then consolidated to ensure the structural stability of the paint film.

  
  

• Infilling and Surface Preparation: All areas of loss within the plaster substrate and paint layers were carefully infilled, leveling the surface and mimicking the original texture to prepare for aesthetic reintegration.

  
  

• Aesthetic Reintegration: A precise retouching and inpainting process was executed to restore the chromatic harmony and fine details characteristic of Parrish’s work, reversing the damage from both the fire and the previous interventions.
  

The Result and Images

The specialized conservation treatment successfully revitalized these rare Maxfield Parrish caricatures, returning them to their intended vibrancy. By stabilizing the plaster and removing the residues of fire and poor past repairs, the project preserved a significant piece of Philadelphia’s artistic heritage.

Details of the mural before

Details of the mural afterwards

Detail of the mural after retouching the image.

Mural Before Reapplication of Varnish (or Vitrification) and Filling of the Background

Mural After Reapplication of Varnish (or Vitrification) and Filling of the Background

Mural Details After Treatment Completion