How To Repair Craquelure In An Old Painting

Cracking (Craquelure)

Craquelure is the technical name for 'cracking' in an oil painting

Craquelure is the single about obvious sign of one-time age and change in an oil painting.

It is a French term, used generically, to refer to the cracks or 'seperation', visible when the surface of the paint 'literally seperates' from the base, revealing the ground color below.

The size, shape and patterns of the craquelure can vary enormously, and can exist described accordingly; spoke cracks, frame cracks, grid cracks, garland and spiral, corn ear and also brush stroke cracks are examples of the various patterns.

Craquelure is non in itself harmful to the painting, in fact fine craquelure can add to the 'quality' of its patina, that only age can bring -in that location is an aesthetic balance to consider!

James Mattock - craquelure example

Still, in the painting beneath (a 19th century 'cattle portrait' by Provincial artist James Mattock), the amount of craquelure detracts from the quality of the image, particularly in the areas involving white pigment. This fabricated the painting expect 'rather grubby' and undermined the whole charm of the piece of work.

Click the images to come across shut-ups of the before and after.
The clients where absolutely charmed with the transformation of their treasured family heirloom

Jules Cave - craquelure instance

Prior to cleaning, the dirt and erstwhile varnish obscured the overpainted craquelure, in this beguiling 19th century portrait by French creative person Jules Cave.

In club to return the masterful colour tones of the portrait, much of the previous restoration had to be removed so retouched, matching the original pallette.

Bitumised Craquelure

It became fashionable in the early 19th century to experiment in mixingliquid bitumen with blackness pigment. Over time the dark tones in particular, of some of these paintings take undergone a chemical change.

Bitumised Oil Painting

This detail of a late 19th Century Highland painting by Robert Cleminson shows moderate 'Bitumisation'. Early 19th Century examples can be far more dramatic!

In extreme examples the bitumen has oxidised and blistered forming deep, wide and cruddy cracks. This transformation can make quite an affect on the texture of the paint itself, and requires quite unique strategies for cleaning and re-touching.