16-TE-2007_Racconigi, Castello, C. Dauphin, Equestrian portrait of Ludovica di Savoia inv. R 4874

Facilitated description: 

 

The equestrian portrait of Ludovica of Savoy is a painting on canvas. 
The painter Charles Dauphin painted the painting in 1660-1663. 
The painting is kept at the Castle of Racconigi. 
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the painting in 2007. 
The restorers cleaned the painting in front and behind. 
They have arranged the ruined paintings of the previous restorations with watercolors and varnishes.
They painted the painting to protect it from the sun's rays and dust. 
After the restorers cleaned the frame. 
They filled the missing wooden parts with putty (plaster and glue). 
They painted the putty with watercolors and paints. 
In the end they gilded the stucco. 

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention: 

 

The portrait of Ludovica of Savoy has been restored on the occasion of the exhibition The Palace of Venaria and the Savoy. Art, magnificence and history of a European court (Reggia di Venaria, 13 October 2007 - 30 March 2008). 

Restoration

The intervention began with the removal of dust deposits from the surface and back of the canvas by suction, followed by a chemical cleaning to eliminate coherent and inconsistent deposits. Subsequently, a chromatic rebalancing was carried out in the high-end and glazing of the ginnings with paint colors was performed. Finally, a final protective was laid out. 
On the frame was carried out a maintenance intervention that provided for the removal of atmospheric dust deposit with vacuum cleaner, brushes and chemical cleaning. In addition, the gaps were retouched with watercolor colors. 

 

Bibliography

F. Grana, Sheet 6.7, in The Palace of Venaria and the Savoy. Art, magnificence and history of a European court (catalogue), edited by E. Castelnuovo, Turin, 2007, p. 113.