21mc017-TE-2008_Turin, Galleria Sabauda, J. C. D. Van Loo, View of the surroundings of Turin with aurora effect, inv. 504, cat. 355

Facilitated description:

 

View of the surroundings of Turin with dawn effect is a painting by Jules Cesar Denis Van Loo made in 1794. 
The painting depicts a country landscape in the early morning. 
The painting is kept at the Galleria Sabauda in Turin. 
The restorers of the La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the painting in 2008. 
Scientists at the Venaria Center have done scientific analysis to study how the painting was made, the materials used and to see where the restorations of the past are.
The restorers cleaned the painting from dust and eliminated the paint (layer over the paint).
They filled the shortcomings of painting the edges with stucco (plaster and cola). 
They painted the stucco with watercolors. 
They also restored the frame. 
They cleaned the frame and filled the wooden gaps with stucco (plaster and glue layer). 
They did the gilding where they were missing. 
In the end they put a varnish to protect the painting and the frame from the sun's rays and dust. 

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

Restoration

The restoration of the canvas began with the removal of dust deposits from the support by means of micro-aspirators and soft brushes. Before the intervention on the pictorial film, the painting was subjected to multispectral investigations to know the executive technique, the nature of the non-original materials and substances mentioned above. The solvent mixture to be used in the removal of the paint was then identified. Once the cleaning had been completed, the perimeter gaps were filled with Bologna plaster and rabbit glue and these parts were painted in watercolour colours. Finally, a protective varnish was applied.

 

Frame
For the restoration of the frame, suitable solvents have been identified for thinning the protective layer and altered repaintings. Removal and neutralization of the solution was performed with acetone. After the cleaning, the missing parts were puttyed with a plaster based on plaster and rabbit glue. The bolus, similar in colour to the original, was applied to the grouting and the gold leaf was then burnished using a gouache technique. Finally, a protective varnish was applied by spraying. 

 

Bibliography

- S. Villano, Sheet 9.20 in De Van Dyck in Bellotto. Splendeurs à la cour de Savoie, C. E. Spantigati, P. Astrua, A. M. Bava, S. Damiano, Turin, Allemandi, 2009, p. 221.