The Restoration of Ave Maria Narrated Version

Summary

This video documents the meticulous restoration of an Ave Maria icon on wood, showcasing the process from addressing severe damage and detachment of paint to the final retouching and varnishing. The artist carefully preserves the original wood support despite pest infestation and rot, using B72 resin for stabilization and employing traditional gilding techniques. The restoration aims to respect the artwork's history while making it visually coherent, utilizing Italian retouching methods to subtly conceal damage, culminating in a conserved piece that retains its artifactual qualities.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The restoration of an icon of Ave Maria on wood involved addressing extensive damage and detachment of paint from the wood structure.
• 🔍 The initial step was to carefully remove and document detached paint pieces to ensure their correct reattachment during the restoration process.
• 📸 Digital photography was used to record the location of paint pieces for accurate reassembly.
• 🪵 The wood panel had suffered from movement, poor preparation, pest infestation, and rot, which contributed to the separation of the paint layer.
• 💉 B72 resin was injected into the wood to fill voids, stabilize the structure, and prevent further movement.
• 🛠️ Excess resin on the wood surface was removed with a scalpel and bare fingers to prepare for new gesso application.
• 🖌️ An acrylic gesso with penetrating properties was applied to ensure a strong bond for successive layers and prevent future detachment.
• 🔗 Heat-activated solvent was used to stabilize partially detached paint layers by injecting it beneath the paint to secure them to the wood.
• 🧩 After stabilizing loose paint, adhesive was applied to reattach completely detached pieces, guided by digital images for correct placement.
• 🧼 A gelled solvent was chosen to clean the painting, removing accumulated linseed oil and grime to reveal the original artwork.
• 🛡️ An isolation layer of B72 resin varnish was applied to protect the original work and simulate the final appearance after retouching.
• 🌟 Traditional gilding techniques were employed to rebuild lost gold leaf areas, using size and leaf application to match the original.
• 🎭 The retouching method 'Riga Tino' was used, which involves sketching with vertical stripes to conceal damage while preserving the artwork's history.
• 🛡️ An ultraviolet stable, fully reversible conservators varnish was applied as the final step to protect and complete the restoration.

Q & A

What is the primary issue with the Ave Maria icon upon its arrival for restoration?

The primary issue is the extensive damage and precarious condition of the piece, with massive sections of loss, paint completely detached from the wood, and the paint flaking and being incredibly dirty.

How does the restorer handle the detached paint pieces during the restoration process?

The restorer carefully removes the completely detached paint pieces and places them on an acid-free piece of foam core, keeping them aligned and using digital photography to document their location for accurate reattachment.

Why was the paint layer separated from the panel in the Ave Maria icon?

The separation was due to the movement of the wood and poor preparation of the panel, with the paint layer separating at the gesso.

What material is used to stabilize and fill the voids in the wood of the Ave Maria icon?

B72 resin is used to stabilize the wood, fill the gaps, and prevent further movement by acting as an adhesive.

How does the restorer ensure a good bond for the new layer of paint on the wood panel?

The restorer uses an acrylic gesso modified for better penetrating properties, ensuring it penetrates deep into the wood pores for a strong bond with successive layers.

What method does the restorer use to stabilize and secure the partially detached paint pieces?

The restorer uses a heat-activated solvent-activated adhesive, injecting it into and under the lifting areas, and later activates the adhesive with heat and pressure to bond the paint back to the wood.

How does the restorer approach the cleaning process of the painting?

After testing and identifying the surface accumulation as linseed oil, the restorer uses a gelled solvent to soften and remove the grime, followed by delicate scraping with a scalpel for stubborn areas.

What technique is used for retouching the painting to conceal damage while preserving its artifact qualities?

The restorer uses an Italian technique called 'treta' which involves sketching with vertical stripes, known as 'Riga Tino', to camouflage the damage without completely imitating the original.

How is the gold leaf embellishment on the icon restored?

The restorer rebuilds the gold leaf using traditional gilding techniques, applying a size, cutting the leaf into sections, tamping it down, and working the leaf with various tools to match the original.

What type of varnish is applied in the final step of the restoration process, and why?

An ultraviolet stable, fully reversible conservators varnish is applied to protect the painting, isolate the original work from additional retouching, and simulate the final appearance after varnishing.

What does the restorer aim to achieve with the restoration of the Ave Maria icon?

The restorer aims to address the damage while preserving some of the artifact qualities of the piece, allowing it to look complete and full while acknowledging its history in a sensitive way.