Restoration of paintings by 17th-century Dutch masters

Emanuel de Witte. Square in an Italian City

One of the most complex, painstaking and interesting jobs carried out by the staff of the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Easel Paintings has been the restoration of Emanuel de Witte's (1616/17-1692) painting of a Square in an Italian City (oil on canvas; 66.3 х 66.5 cm). The work was painted in 1664, as we know from the author's signature and date which are found on the depiction of the lower step to the right. The painting entered the Hermitage in 1915 from the collection of Semionov-Tian-Shansky. Restoration was carried out by the art restorer Tatyana Alioshina for display in the exhibition A Collector's Taste. Netherlandish Paintings of the 16th-17th Centuries from the Collection of P.P. Semionov-Tian-Shansky. The paint layer and ground were strengthened along the whole surface of the canvas and in places where paint was missing the ground was restored. The lacquer was restored; the lacquer film was thinned and levelled across the entire surface. Old additions covering up the author's painting were removed. The lacquer was restored a second time. The painting has been coated with fresh lacquer and tinted.

Jacob van Ruisdael. House in the Wood

The House in the Wood (oil on canvas; 105 х 163 cm) was painted by Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/29-1682) in 1646, as we see from the author's signature and date placed somewhat to the right of the middle. It entered the Hermitage prior to 1839. The restoration was done by art restorers of the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Easel Paintings Yevgeny Gerasimov and Valery Shatsky for the exhibition Jacob van Ruisdael. Master of Landscapes. The paint layer and ground were strengthened across the entire surface of the painting. The lacquer was restored; the old and yellowed lacquer was thinned and evened out. Old additions covering the author's painting were removed. The lacquer was then restored a second time. The painting has been coated with fresh lacquer and tinted.

Lambert Domer. Landscape with a Tower

Lambert Domer's (1622/23-1700) painting Landscape with a Tower (oil on wood; 34 х 53 cm) entered the Hermitage in 1915 from the collection of Semionov-Tian-Shansky. Restoration was carried out by the art restorer Maria Shulepova for display at the exhibition A Collector's Taste. Netherlandish Paintings of the 16th-17th Centuries from the Collection of P.P. Semionov-Tian-Shansky The paint layer and ground were strengthened and in places where paint was missing the ground was restored. The lacquer was restored; the old and yellowed lacquer was thinned and evened out. Old additions covering the author's painting were removed and the lacquer was then restored a second time.

House in the Wood
Jacob van Ruisdael
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