Restoring a lost Masterpiece

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

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[@taxpayer1040]

Such a portrait of quiet elegance. I can understand (or hope I can!)why you wish to savour the work on this one.

[@yk2471]

Great video for a cozy Sunday afternoon. What a gorgeous piece!

[@darlene2662]

I can appreciate the joy you have cleaning this painting!! To work on a painting that is almost 250-300 years old is amazing! I look forward to the next video……Tx😊

[@kevinm-py1nt]

I see why you were so excited! Great video, thanks.

[@mamabear162]

Thought it was a georgeous gold gown, then I saw the test window. Amazing!

[@TheUncleRuckus]

Just happened to stumble across this in my homepage and figured I'd give it a look and all I can say is wow. Just a gorgeous painting and I'm taken aback by how life like it is. Liked and Subscribed, I have to see how this goes. 👏👏👏

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you for watching hope you enjoy it!

[@cstz]

Your visible passion and enthusiasm in just being able to witness good art are contagious, and make your already very good videos even better. Your professionalism, enthusiasm and insights make up for excellent videos. What a treat!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thankyou so much!

[@PINTandDALE]

Marvelous! After the recent uphill battles, you deserve a project that delivers pleasure right from the start!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you yes its been a while since ive had something staightforward! Im hopeing this portrait continues to be so! Hope your well!

[@nope123-w6d]

I just can’t stop smiling. Thank you. She is beautiful.

[@hollygolightly8048]

Love the way you are commenting on the colors, rendition of the painting as you are cleaning it. ❤

[@silva7493]

What an absolutely exquisitely beautiful portrait.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes she is lovely!

[@MeriaDuck]

😍 even before restoration, then the tests for cleaning make me quite excited for the result 😊

[@ElleEmm]

What a lovely portrait. That silk is absolutely stunning- it's so luminous, almost iridescent with those soft hints of blush and blue and green. I can't wait to see the finished work!

[@timothyshortnacy7550]

That is a lovely portrait James. I will pour myself a tea and watch you work! Cheers mate!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Cheers Tim hope you enjoyed your brew!

[@Vimby233]

Imagine having your portrait painted and realising you should have had someone run an iron over your dress before you wore it :) That detail is amazingly rendered, such quality.

[@eddieharris6004]

Forget the cruise....i'm going to invest in a decent portrait (need to get some proffessional advice first), a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Stunning.

[@andrewalt6060]

The dress is amazing

[@nickimontie]

What looked like a gold dress is really white - amazing! Watching you clean a painting will never get old!

[@christineingram55]

She is exquisitely painted.The detail in the lace and the dress is incredibly intricate ..The folds and creases,beautifully done.That does look more like silk as it does get very sharp creases in it..Looking forward to next time and more of the painting comes to life ..Great job so far as always 🥰

[@rochellevanderhelm4944]

What a charming painting and an enjoyable video!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you

[@bebe1658]

I just stumbled upon this channel. What wonderful, thoughtful, informative and interesting content! I’m a fan. Can’t wait for the next one. In the meantime, I’m going to watch all the old ones. I love that you love what you do!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thak you so much!

[@robinschott8795]

Can't wait! She's lovely!

[@XMarkxyz]

I love the "simplicity" of the general figure of the portrait, how uncluttered it is, but at the same time so detailed and delicate and magnficient in the rendering of the dress and her face; I like to think it was made to reflect her character or at least give this impression of her

[@NinaHansen2008]

Love this!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Hi Nina, glad you enjoyed it! hope your well X

[@lynnedelacy2841]

The bow is understated’

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes it is very understated and subtle...

[@patriciacooney5705]

Beautiful portrait, love your enthusiasm for this one from the outset. Hopefully that background is not hiding a multitude of sins.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

I hope so too! it looks pretty dark so maybe nothig at all, be great to find a signature...

[@slamcatX2]

so lovely😍

[@janechamblesswright119]

The curve of the folds is delicious. But The sharp edges of those tiny creases in the silk? I am undone.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Love those creases!

[@dashinvaine]

Very nice portrait. Definitely by a first rate artist. The folds of shiny silk around the shoulder are particularly impressive.

[@ruthfarlow2892]

You are loving this

[@Savv66]

Watching this is amazing ❤

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , glad you are enjoying it

[@janmariebrunette-hunyady1386]

At the 7:09 mark it looks like a date with the last number being a 5, maybe 65. Location bottom middle/right.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Imnot sure, im hoping to find some kind of inscription though!

[@di_tattoolover]

I did cringe when the Gold disappeared, but then i realised the delicate details under. Such a great skill to have.

[@jasonroos8431]

Such a lovely blue and black dress!

[@missmurrydesign7115]

Enchanting...

[@TealCheetah]

The rendering of that dress!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

It is beautiful!

[@DipityS]

Honestly thought the dress was gold - it was such a surprise when I realised that was nicotine - then I took a look at her complexion and was very excited to see just how much of a difference the cleaning would make - huge difference!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes me too, Im looking forward to the face next!

[@melindak3770]

I think the dress is of duchess silk. Gorgeously rendered!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

It is beautifully done, is this the same as princess silk ? as favoured by Queen Victorias children ?

[@melindak3770]

@ Duchess silk is heavier and stiffer than Princess silk. It has a soft, rich satin sheen. Princess silk can also have a sheen but it is typically not as structured as Duchess silk, so it was not as favored for making fancy ball gowns.

[@marileestetson737]

I honestly thought her dress was a gold green satin , I should've known better 😊

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

You are not alone! there was quite a few that suggested a gold dress!

[@micheleheddane3804]

Fascinating,thanks

[@erbigimbi9903]

I remember having the same reaction to a painting I bought 2 years ago. It was so thin, I thought it was a photocopy or print with the odd brush stroke added.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

It is incredibly fine

[@tigress63]

I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Thankfully we didn't have to suffer through an egomaniacle tirade on previous restorations like a certain popular American art restorer on YT. Your commentary on the painting and artists was delightful! And your positive emotional response also so wonderfully refreshing. Thank you for a very enjoyable video.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , glad you enjoyed it , more to come very soon on these two paintings

[@reginablevins8550]

I've never cleaned or restored any kind of art. I've no idea how but I'd love to just clean up old paintings for a living. Is that crazy?

[@t.t.6861]

Fabulous, indeed. The dress could be silk, could also be taffeta? As taffeta is also made from silk, well.. here we are. Its shiny and really beautiful.

[@emelle9705]

It really looks like a classic pose Ramsay used over and over in his portraits.

[@Decrepit_Productions]

It's a charming portrait. I'll be interested to see what sort of hairstyle she sports. Maybe it's just my monitor, but for me, the hair blends in with the background so that I can't differentiate one from the other.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Im not sure, it may be put up into a bun, Im hoping it doesnt just disolve into the background

[@lizConway-z8t]

It looks like a dressing gown with jeweled buttons and a loop that hold up the sleeve.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

These were clips that were designed to fold up the fabric and hold in place, I think the wealthier you were the more elaborate they became, the dress is a sack or sacque gown which was popular at the time.

[@a-complished4406]

Please continue 😢😢

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

More to come!

[@RalfNothmann]

I can understand being afraid to restore such a masterpiece A false solvent and you destroy the picture What kind of responsibility I would never have dared to that Like a Hitchcock movie It‘s sooo exciting With great respect Well done ! Greetings from Hamburg

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you! Greetings to Hamburg

[@hsonia3983]

Why not clean the dirt first with soap solution and then use less stronger solution for removing the varnish?

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

The paint and varnish layer are so thin and the initial solution was also removing some of the varnish layer that had deteriorated I decided to do it in one motion and put the painting through less of a physical stress. If the paint surface was much thicker and has not been hung over a fire formany years I may well have used a conservation soap first

[@hsonia3983]

@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration thank you for the explanation 🙏

[@hollygolightly8048]

Curious why you don’t remove the painting from its stretcher, stabilize it with Washiko and fish gel, remove the old backing, repair the holes, all with reversible conservation, and then clean it.

[@Lamhan_Scotland]

So this style of gown is called a wrapping gown and was at its most popular between about 1735 - 1750. It was considered a lady’s undress and worn at home, so this very much places the portrait in a domestic setting to be displayed in their own home. As you can see in this portrait, they were usually worn with modesty piece (looks like Brussels lace here) and never worn with a handkerchief covering the bosom. The sleeves usually had loose turned up sleeves, but as you can see here the paste jewellery performs that function. She seems to have a ruffled shift on underneath too. From what I can see of the hairstyle, it’s looking more like a very late 1750s into the 1760s which is a bit confusing. It will be very interesting to see what further cleaning reveals :-)

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you for this, yes I had it a sack gown or sacque dress, Im interested about the hair style do you know if it has a name?

[@Lamhan_Scotland]

@ It’s not a sack gown, different construction (it’s more like a really elaborate dressing gown made from silk taffeta or satin). As far as I’m aware the hairstyle didn’t have a name but I’ll ask my friend Edith at Colonial Williamsburg for you

[@TheTeamDGL]

Um, loved this....but....uh....could you also read bedtime stories? Thanks :)

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

My bedtime reading days are over! the tiger who came to tea was always a favourite!

[@Romaobb]

I clicked on this video thinking it was a different conservator, but this is good too

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thanks for watching

[@laurelbrennan6295]

Could this be her bridal portrait?

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

maybe .....

[@heatherharrison281]

Was mesmerized but couldn't help but think of it like removing her fake tan😂

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Ha this made me laugh!

[@ratanashifu]

And then again, it looks like a wedding dress, something old, something new, something borrowed (lace?, jewels?) , something blue.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Your on the right track with this...

[@lynnedelacy2841]

The position of her right arm seems a bit odd

[@wollaminfaetter]

Nice crack 🥰

[@SarahBoyd002]

I feel for you every time i hear you speaking. It seems like you deal with significantly obstructed breathing, through the nose. I hope you've had it checked out and its nothing serious 🙏🏻

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Hi, thanks for your comment, Im not sure if thats just my narration style orcould jusy be my Mancunian accent!

[@joshTheGoods]

Really want to watch this, but the mouth sounds make it impossible for me. Swallowing, lip smacking, etc ... many folks like me simply cannot ignore it.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thanks for your feedback, noted. please come back for the next part and hopefully it will improve...

[@joshTheGoods]

@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration Thanks! I will definitely be back, and I appreciate your taking the feedback well :).

[@snoogiebug]

Get a new microphone. Please

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thanks for your feedback

[@KW-td1ik]

Quit talking and put some music on. It would be much more enjoyable.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thanks for your feedback, maybe ill chuck some in just for you next time, people been telling me for the last year to not put music in?

[@jasonroos8431]

Such a lovely blue and black dress!

[@janechamblesswright119]

The curve of the folds is delicious. But The sharp edges of those tiny creases in the silk? I am undone.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

It is so well painted !

[@janechamblesswright119]

@ The pristine paint surface of the portrait is glorious. I just recently completed restoring a gentleman from 1757 who had been cut from his bars, and glued onto chipboard. The glue must have been DELICIOUS, because the bugs ate through the back of the board, and consumed the entire canvas. Long tunnels opened up and entire chunks of canvas dropped away while I was working. It was a glorious battle, but he will live for another couple hundred years - looking sharp. I HATE BUGS. Looking forward to peeking over your shoulder for the rest of the journey!