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cleaning old oil paintings

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j...@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu

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Apr 10, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/10/97
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anyone have any ideas for how to clean an old ooil painting that i found at the
paris flea market last weekend?

Thanks in advance,

Jerome

efleak

RoyGBivart

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Apr 11, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/11/97
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Dear Jerome:

Go to the library and look up how to do the cleaning and restoring. If
you trust what you are told on the net, you might get bad advise from
someone who has no knowledge. If the work is important to you...do it
right.

Sincerely,

Roy

Rob Underwood

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Apr 15, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/15/97
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In article <1997Apr10.103849.10343@ohstpy>, j...@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu wrote:

> anyone have any ideas for how to clean an old ooil painting

IF THE PAINTING HAS BEEN VARNISHED, there is a comercial Product made by
Winsor & Newton called Winton Picture Cleaner. Get yourself a box of
Q-tips, a bunch of cotton balls, a clean flat brush (not bristle) 1/4"
wide is fine, and a clean container of distilled turpentine. Shake up the
picture cleaner and put some of it on a wad of cotton and gently, with
circular motions rub a small area. as you do this, you will see dirt
collect on the wad. Turn to a clean part of the wad and repeat until the
surface is clean and only the color of the cleaner appears on the cotton.
You do not want to remove all of the varnish or have any paint coming off.
If this happens,QUICKLY swab the area with turpentine, which will stop the
action of the cleaning solvent. In any event, you want to wipe all areas
with turpentine after working them with solvent. It's time consuming, so
be patient. Let it sit for a week or so before revarnishing.

IF THE PAINTING WAS NOT VARNISHED DO NOT USE THE PICTURE CLEANER! Use soap
and water with the cotton wads as described above. If you think the
painting may be by a significant artist, take it to a museum and talk to
their conservation people before you do anything.

Rob
No clever quotes here.

Tom Hart

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Apr 16, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/16/97
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Subject: cleaning old oil paintings
From: jjh
Date: 10 Apr 97 10:38:49 -0400
In article <1997Apr10.103849.10343@ohstpy> ,

j...@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu writes:
>anyone have any ideas for how to clean an old ooil painting that i found
at the
>paris flea market last weekend?

I'm a little surprised that no one has said this yet, so I'll jump in. If
this painting is something you really care for, and *especially* if you
have even the slightest hunch that it might have significant value, have
the cleaning done by a professional. At the very least consult one before
working on it yourself. I'd visit or call the local museum to see if they
can provide you with the names of professional painting conservators
and/or restorers.

Tom

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