Restoring an Abandoned Portrait Painting - Part 3 The Regency Gent

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In this episode I continue to remove the overpaint from the background and begin work on the coat and cravat. We learn a little bit about Regency Style and the colourful character Beau Brummell. This painting was stored in an attic and a stable block for over 127 years and was in desperate need of some restoration.
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[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

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[@MinniMintz]

I love the added history you've been telling us while cleaning!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

I'm glad you enjoyed it , wasn’t sure if it was too much …😊😅

[@bonnieharris8855]

The original over paint next to this looks like a cartoon!

[@shortsweettoo]

You found your niche! The archival information was a wonderful touch. I am also loving the portrait more and more with each episode. Great work.

[@mettemettrixx]

Just fabulous, and we are SO lucky to be able to follow the development as the gent slowly are revealed. You are refreshingly honest about the mistakes that we ALL do, that make -or restore or repair items of any sort. People whom never fail, never dare to push themselves. Really looking forward to the next video, you are quickly becoming a new favourite for many of us art-restoring fans, I think:)

[@amazinggrace5692]

Was thinking the same thing. Really enjoyable and relaxing and I love the info he’s giving us. 💕🐝💕🖼🎨

[@jenniferfox301]

The difference between how he came to you and how he was actually painted is incredible. Definitely Bumble to Darcy! You are very talented.

[@nickimontie]

💯

[@VTheYo]

Ahhh! The original painting has so much beautiful detail! It’s so sad to think about the reaction the family had when they got the “restored” painting back, and it probably made them sick, hence hiding the painting away, but I can’t help but feel bad for Mr. Williamson 😬 I don’t know if he thought he did a good job and then got ripped apart with criticism by the family when he returned the painting or if he realized his restoration was terrible and was terrified to give it to the family 😅😢.

[@nickimontie]

The history of the cravat is interesting. Men today should have more fashion choices like in the past - they don't get the variety that women have. This is really coming along beautifully!

[@mollysheridan7134]

The difference is stunning. Looking forward to seeing him with varnish.

[@jomercer21113]

The transformation is astounding! Mr. Williams must have subscribed to the "restoration via house paint" study-at-home course. Items that have a layer of dirt and dust will develop superficial patches of mildew growth when they are stored in areas prone to coolish temps, high humidity, and poor air circulation. Maybe someone cleaned it too hard, skinned the canvas, and then decided to do the extreme overpainting. It makes me wonder who referred this incompetent hack to the family.

[@bearsbreeches]

Antimacassars not doilies to protect your chairs from grease

[@janechamblesswright119]

“Macassar Oil” was used as a pomade and hair conditioner. Thus the innovation of the “anti-macassar” was needed to protect your upholstery. Sounds like yucky stuff, but was wildly popular with the gents.

[@bearsbreeches]

@@janechamblesswright119 worked with Brylcreem too. I remember my Dad using it in the 50s and my Mum hating it

[@jomercer21113]

@@bearsbreeches "a little dab'll do ya!"

[@jomercer21113]

Women used to sew a strip of "beard guard" fabric onto the top edge of quilts to protect them from the greasy pomades, too.

[@nationalparksdiary3549]

The transformation so far is amazing. Looks like two separate gentlemen. Great work!

[@walkertongdee]

Noticing the repainted version's blank glazed eyes and weak facial features in contrast to the artist's conception of his strong mouth and chin, purposeful gaze, and manly look, he is a strikingly different man.

[@kayleencovert1791]

Thanks for all the history drops, from you too commenters. It has been a lot of fun. I cannot wait to see the complete change in our gentleman. Sad to see so much damage to any painting, but always amazing to see the original view the artist made. A picture into their world even through the grim we dig!

[@tgh965]

Wow...it is a completely different painting. I really am looking forward to seeing it all come together, plus your commentary wonderfully informative and entertaining. Thank you for all of your time and effort to make this content.

[@behall464]

I've been subscribed for a while and really enjoy your work! This is the first time I’ve heard give us the history of the time. Wonderful! We get to know the person even better while he is re-appearing. Is it possible that the previous restorer may have forgotten what the original looked like as he was working on it? Left it for awhile and came back? There may have been a way to keep track of the original as you were working on a painting. Photography was discovered in 1822 and took many years to become useable by many. Just a thought. Again thank you for your channel!

[@PINTandDALE]

Enjoying the historical commentary - the information definitely adds an extra dimension to the video! Well done!

[@kathharper]

Woof what a mucky mess that was - loved your informative bit about Beau Brummel too. Good progress, and I'm hanging on for the next stage!

[@mofolk8896]

Delighted to watch the process, see the progress, and learn from your commentary. He’s looking very dashing!

[@davidmcghee1824]

Looking so good. Fantastic narrative and restoration. Looking forward to the next part!

[@helenyoung8012]

Gosh, the stock has come alive with the cleaning. Where you have cleaned the portrait has come alive and has a vibrancy and movement to it. It was so clunky before. Very much liking all the history going with the cleaning.

[@patsyross1750]

Another distinguished gentleman emerging from the grime and overpaint. Fabulous work. ❤

[@lynnedelacy2841]

The doilys on the back of chairs were known as anti Macassars as Macassar oil was used on men’s hair We still had them on our chairs when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s to protect them from dad’s Brylcreem!

[@phranerphamily]

He is very Austinesque in style. He feels to me like a Capt. Wentworth. The minute you mentioned Beau Brummel Billy Joel's It's Still Rock and Roll to Me started going in my head. I'm really enjoying this project.

[@orzelgryf]

If someone show me Jane Austin Novel with this guy on the cover, I wouldn't be mad...

[@OdeInWessex]

Beau Brummel basically invented modern mens fashion, he was slavishly followed by the aristocracy and certainly came up with THE most flattering male costume - hence the popularity of 'Mr Darcy' (Colin Firth era please). His morning toilette was witnessed only by carefully invited guests and was the most coveted invite in the 'Ton' at the height of his popularity. His eventual fall out with the Prince of Wales ( he made a rude comment about that gluttonous Prince's weight) and self inflicted Bankruptcy destroyed his 'career' as a self made social influencer (it's not a new thing...) Unlike the Aristocracy who could not be imprisoned for their debts the untitled Brummel most certainly could so fled to France where he spent his final days in exile and died, virtually penniless. Sad ending for an incredibly stylish but probably not very nice man. I'm afraid I have little sympathy for him as I reserve that for the Tailors and Craftsmen who were unpaid and undoubtedly suffered for it as, in an earlier period the brilliant cabinet maker Thomas Chippendale most certainly did when he died in debtors prison for the same reason - clients who refused to pay.

[@MinhTrong-d2o]

Another distinguished gentleman emerging from the grime and overpaint. Fabulous work. . The difference is stunning. Looking forward to seeing him with varnish..

[@Jules_Pew]

Are you teasing us with a possible signature? I'd love to know the owners reaction once you've finished. Beau Brummel called the Regent fat, and was dropped, losing his influence and then got chased by his tailors for their bills. He is solely responsible for men dressing so boringly to this day - they used to be just as bright as the ladies.

[@bevharrison8157]

Thank you so much , great faction history lesson , he’s looking quite the dandy now , looking forward to seeing him fully restored .

[@SherryRector]

I thoroughly enjoyed the cleaning, and the political colors of the jackets in the waist coats. You learn something new every day. Well done.

[@kevinconaty4781]

Just discovered your channel! Thoroughly enjoying it. Love the comments along the way.

[@isabellerininger6249]

Love your channel! In watching the Gent be worked on it occurs to me…. What if what we see as a poor re-do on top was done because the original didn’t look like the person?🤔 perhaps the first painter was the one in error, even though possessing a higher skill/quality? Maybe it was done from memory?🤷🏼‍♀️ I’ve just been trying to think of a plausible explanation for such a nice looking painting to be overpainted. That’s the only thing I can come up with. Just thinking creatively.👍

[@negotiableaffections]

Well, it really does look like that cravat is made from a gauzy material [all those fabrics represented using 'just' oil-paints & skill]; until a 2nd-rate plasterer comes along and covers it all up! A teeny modicum of damage in the fight to rescue a desecrated painting? I think we all forgive you that minor glitch whilst struggling to undue such butchery that's already been done. Good luck and I look forward to seeing the gent all prim & proper (even if he does wear blue!)

[@sheep1ewe]

Ot is amazing to see the original depth and details coming to life agin! I really like Your storytelling in the background as well!

[@cindyknudson2715]

Do we know that Mr Williamson was an actual professional or even an adult? Perhaps he was a beloved man grandson who took up painting and borrowed a painting from the attic to show-off his "skill" by redoing the portrait. However, it came to be, I'm glad the family kept it so that you might excavate the original artist's portrayal of the gentleman, even if it is all these years later.

[@JadedLady]

Sheesh, the person who "retouched/cleaned" this painting said "Eh, I'm a better artist, so i'll just repaint this whole thing".

[@Figueiredoartconservation]

Your cleaning was very efective, revealing a beautiful cloudy background,. I think it is hard to emagine, what makes someone to overpaint a background the way it was before the cleaning, making it so much flat, and much less vibrant than it was in the beginning.

[@oh-donut]

It is quite a transformation. Glad to see what it looked like before the restoration disaster.

[@janegreen9340]

Quite a transformation. That horrendous overpainting job must have been a painting by numbers experiment.

[@mikage06]

He looks more displayable now than before! 😮

[@taxpayer1040]

I agree with others that the history is so important to understand the development of portrait painting. Going back to how it looked initially I thought it might br a preparatory painting so heavy was the overpainting. I am glad you covered the point on ‘solutions’ when compared to ‘gels’. If I have understood you it is with solutions you have a more subtle control when compared to gels.

[@triskerslake3763]

You can see more and more why the previous 'restoration' would have driven the family to despair. The more I watch you removing that botch-job, the more it's reminding me of the Ecce Home fresco debacle. Onwards!

[@marileestetson737]

It looks like there's a faint representation of a city upon cliffs overlooking the water in the background 😮😊

[@missmurrydesign7115]

Delicious...

[@juliebatchelor55]

I’m also enjoying the history. It really helps bring the painting alive

[@wendymorrison5803]

I think more Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr Darcy's cousin. A little older, a little more worldlywise. Certainly the supposed date for this image fits Austens targeted observations of genteel life. And cleaning the overpaint, WOW. He has regained character, depth, and becomes interesting. We want to know more about him.

[@Garden366]

What a telling statement to say a dirty brown color on a painting may be either dirt or Mr. Williamson’s background paint.

[@JadedLady]

I am so happy YT finally recommended you! I subbed too😊

[@davidkeogh9869]

great work..thanks for the information about the clothing and it's relevance..always look forward to your videos

[@relaxation1737]

Hopefully you’ll put a painting together better than the French language bless

[@cherdrol]

Love the buttons

[@NiaJustNia]

Brummel basically Queer Eye'd the entire court 😂

[@robertarthropthesecond]

Great video, fantastic work. Painting is so much nicer!

[@torxsal7008]

Bravo pour le français 👏🏻 and interesting work

[@kathrynmoore4071]

He went from a pudge pig nose to a more distinguished gentleman

[@mcollins630]

That looks like a landscape behind him, not sky?

[@shirleymeier2367]

I like this painting. I did not like the 'original'.

[@Tinatortoise]

Could he have been repainted as an older man, save money? xxx

[@cyndy338]

Excellent!🤩 Just had to subscribe! 👏👏👏👊👍😊

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Welcome aboard!

[@joereedsmith1531]

The cleaner he gets, the dirtier I am on Williamson.

[@ridi]

Love your videos, maybe a new mic would a good idea

[@TealCheetah]

LOVE the included history!

[@Jen39x]

Did the dark blue literally attract more dirt?

[@fredygump5578]

Poor Mr. Williams! I'm sure he was hoping nobody would notice....

[@stefanwild326]

👍

[@angeliquejudy8023]

I can not wait for the next episode. This process is almost cathartic to watch as Mr piggy becomes Mr Darcy. Excited for the next bit

[@ghitageorgel4276]

Wow, this painting restoration is amazing! I love seeing the transformation of this abandoned portrait. Great job! #paintingrestoration

[@thomaslindh9971]

What a difference!

[@SirNecro]

Well done on the transformation yet again. Would a Washi Kozo lining to the front of the painting help lift that dirt layer quicker or is it always about the swabs and time ?

[@cherryllcooper679]

Bon voyage et bon chance! Hope you have wonderful trip.

[@MrLenvin]

I can watch for hours

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you

[@srrfounder1]

Excellent travail, James! 😊✌️💚

[@Happyheretic2308]

Read Georgette Heyer!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you I will, she sounds really interesting and her knowledge of the regency period immense !!! 😃

[@Happyheretic2308]

@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration wonderful, and they're funny too ..!

[@mirandadunsmore-gladue5477]

You just made me so happy ❤