(Johann) Peter (Theodor) Janssen (1844-1908), click here for his C. V.
C. V.

 

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  last edited: 2012-03-03

The Restoration of Peter Denying Christ - Painting by Peter Janssen, 1869

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click here to enlarge

This painting was formerly owned by The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia.
Due to the policy of showing mainly US artists this painting ended up in storage and unfortunately deteriorated.

Prof. Peter Janssen 1844-1908
Professor Johann Peter Theodor Janssen 1844-1908
Director of the Duesseldorf Academy of Arts and famous German historian painter.

Some time ago the family of the artist was able to acquire this painting and hence started the process of restoration which will be documented on this website.

To begin with we will show some photos of the status of the painting before restoration.
The restoration was performed by the ARTEX Conservation Laboratory, with the work directed by Barbara A. Ramsay and carried out by Peter Nelsen, assisted by several other ARTEX conservators
.

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click to enlarge! click to enlarge!

The conservation effort is tremendously meticulous. Stretching a painting which is in bad shape can take many days and even weeks. This is essential before one can work on parts of the painting.

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Painting face in raking light before treatment.   Painting on temporary stretcher.
 
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Canvas deformation, tear, and protective facing seen in raking light – before treatment.       

 

Same area as above, also in raking light - after removal of facing, tear realignment, and reduction of planar deformation using localized humidification and a suction platen.

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Suction platen used to locally reduce canvas deformation. Platen setup is shown behind painting that is angled at right.

Detail during varnish and surface grime removal.
Most of the
right half has been cleaned.

Detail during varnish and grime removal.
A rectangular area
at left has been cleaned.

The treatment carried out in the following photos includes:

  1. Localized flattening of canvas deformation using humidity and weights and a mini suction platen

  2. More generalized flattening of the canvas deformation (one quarter of the painting at a time) on the MSC heated suction table.

  3. Lining of the painting onto a new fabric using BEVA 371 adhesive on the heated suction table.

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Detail during varnish and grime removal.
Rectangular area surrounding
rooster has not yet been cleaned.

...during lining, one of four sections.

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...flattening and temporary stretching- inraking light from right.

...flattening and temporary stretching - inraking light from left.

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...suction table after flattening of section
furthest from the viewer.

...after lining, before infilling and inpainting.

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...after lining on the heated suction table.

...after stretching, varnishing and infilling, before inpainting.

Peter Denying Christ - Painting by Peter Janssen, 1869, click to enlarge
The final result after the treatment
click here for more photos and details of the house to accomodate the painting! click here for more photos and details of the house to accomodate the painting!
This house was transformed completely to accommodate this painting after the painting conservation process.
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ARTEX Fine Art Services’ professional art handlers shipped and installed the painting.
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Mission accomplished!

* Photographs of treatment courtesy of the ARTEX Conservation Laboratory, ARTEX Fine Art Services, Washington, DC.

 

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