22-mc05-TE-2012_Moncalieri, Castello, Madonna di trapani, inv. 459

Facilitated description:

 

Madonna di Trapani is a painting on canvas made during the 1700s. 
The painting represents the Madonna with the baby Jesus in her arms. 
The painting is kept at the Castle of Moncalieri. 
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the painting in 2012. 
Scientists have done scientific analysis to study drawing under painting. 
The restorers cleaned the frame (wooden structure that stands behind the painting and serves to support the painting).   
They removed the backing canvas behind the painting.
After the restorers cleaned the front part of the painting.
They got rid of the dust and the yellowed paint. 
They kept the paintings of the old restoration.  
They filled the color gaps with putty (plaster and glue layer). 
They painted the putty with paint colors. 
They painted the painting to protect it from the sun's rays and dust. 
Eventually they cleaned the frame and filled the missing wooden parts with putty. 

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention: 

 

Restoration

The restoration was preceded by a multispectral diagnostic campaign to find information on the state of conservation and the execution technique of the work. Among the results that emerged from the infrared analysis was a small repentance at the crossing of hands between the Madonna and Child and a slight sign to the right of the halo of Christ.
The intervention began with the cleaning of the frame, still in good condition. The auxiliary cloth was then removed and the original cloth cleaned, removing the incoherent dust with micro-aspirator and brush and the consistent deposits in the interstices of the woven weave with wishab rubber. 
Subsequently, a differentiated cleaning was prepared on the pictorial film to remove dust deposits, the protective layer and tone-turned paint retouches, taking care to preserve the oldest oil repaintings. A layer of preliminary varnish was then applied and the gaps were compensated with grouting, then retouched with camouflage. Subsequently the painting was carried out and on the drapery of the curtain were made light veils to cover the alterations. Finally, the frame was consolidated at the level of the angular intersections, the gold leaf was cleaned, the gaps were grouted and supplemented with gold leaf and watercolor.