The Regency Gent - The recovery of a failed restoration Part 1

In this episode we begin the process of removing overpaint from a failed restoration from 127 years ago! The Regency Gent had been badly restored and the horrified family left it to languish in an attic and a stable block for over a century. We slowly unlock the mistakes of the past to see what is underneath.
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#paintingrestoration #artrestoration #artrestorer #artconservation

[@trapdoorspider1238]

Hello its Eric, Jim I'd love to go on a tour of your studio I love your videos. Your a huge inspiration keep up the good work. 😊😊

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Eric that’s great !!! 😃 We will get something organised over the summer, thanks for watching , glad your enjoying the videos !!! 👍🤙

[@trapdoorspider1238]

@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration thank you so much 😃😄

[@CombeValleyCampers]

Another paint resto channel, and a Brit to boot! I’ve been a Baumgartner subscriber for years and yearned for another resto channel. You’re doing a great job man

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you ! Welcome along !!

[@bendingsands87]

Uh oh. I may have just found another rabbit hole of soothing videos to watch. Another art restoration channel I watch is Baumgartner Restorations and I just love these videos. They're the ultimate before and after surprise. You may try looking at some of his videos for some editing and format ideas. As it is now your content is still very watchable and I'm enjoying it. It will only get better. Thanks for all you do🙂

[@jacksons1010]

Baumgartner’s videos are very well done, as is his restoration and conservation work.

[@ruadhscottygirl2480]

While Baumgartner’s videos are very nice to watch, he is not the high pooba of art restoration. Plus his nattering on and on about how great he does things is distinctly annoying, so I just turn the sound off and enjoy the well-filmed video itself. I VERY much enjoy this presenter’s laid back, non-gimmicky style much more because we get restoration, not philosophy.

[@jacksons1010]

@@ruadhscottygirl2480 Why do we feel the need to pick sides on everything? People who enjoy this video will very likely also enjoy Baumgatner, which is why people are offering that tip. It's not a contest FFS.

[@DrWhom]

@@ruadhscottygirl2480 My problem with Baum is that he goes for what I guess he thinks is a distinguished register of English, the result being a malapropism in nearly every sentence.

[@DrWhom]

@@jacksons1010 That's right, it is not a contest, and if Baum would just talk the way he does in daily life, his vids would be much more enjoyable.

[@debbiericker8223]

Mr. Bumble, perhaps, but I see Mr. Darcy vs. Mr. Collins. You did such a great job, and I enjoyed hearing the history lesson, too.

[@ruadhscottygirl2480]

It’s hard to tell with the camera a bit away, but the overpainter’s name looks to be Jn Williamson. As a person who works with 1800s court documents, that would be John Williamson, not Junior Williamson.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , yes that makes sense , I didnt consider an abbreviation!!

[@ldavies3280]

Yes, my family history research has shown that Jn is almost always an abbreviation of John.

[@tgh965]

I am fascinated by restoration...it is important as well as entertaining. Thank you for taking on the extra tasks in producing content along with your restoration work.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeanettekvinlaug2772]

Your channel popped up today, and I really like it. I never thought testoration of paintings could be so suspenseful. Liked, subscribed, and now on to the next video on this painting. 😊

[@ilj382]

i ❤ the increase in longer videos, especially the long stretches of cleaning, because it's so fascinating and striking to see the real painting emerge from the muck of old varnish, dirt, and/or overpaint. thanks for the videos! oh and i loved the view through the magnifier. thank you for doing that too

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you ! Glad your enjoying them, I always enjoy looking through the loom , you get so much information.

[@joereedsmith1531]

Ahh the wonders of the gifted amateur artist.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Exactly …😂😂

[@pellekopp]

Marvelous find behind that terrible (in comparison) overpainting. Can’t wait to see if you find a signature or other provenance in later episodes!

[@NMGH]

I just found your site and want to say thank you. You have another subscriber!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Welcome aboard! That’s awesome thank you 🙏

[@asjaasja7642]

Its amazing how the original paint comes trough. The work from the Artist breath again❤ What for a perfect work❤

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you yes it’s so nice to remove the stifling over paint !!

[@wonderbubbles4092]

When I first saw this painting I thought it was rescued from a fire. Did the person who over painted it have a zombie fixation? Thank you for letting us follow this restoration

[@slingingblueberries5714]

Just came across your channel in my suggestions, probably because I've been binging Baumgartner Restoration. I love how you go into the history of the painting, as well as the way you show the details of your process, taking your time and explaining it all. I'm subscribing now :)

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you for your subscription! glad you enjoyed the channel, more to come

[@user-bw6he9ez5d]

Полезный, нескучный канал

[@euchrideucrow1970]

Wow! Whoever repainted this did a truly awful job, no wonder it was banished to the attic. What you’ve shown us so far has already improved it immeasurably. I’m very much looking forward to the next chapter.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes m not surprised either , looking a lot more dignified in the next episode…

[@mollysheridan7134]

There’s already more character to his face. Looking forward to the finished result

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes he is showing lots more character !!

[@SirNecro]

What a transformation a good cleaning has done. He went from a cartoon character to a portrait with life and story. I look forward to seeing the rest of this restoration.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes more to come - so relieved when the original painting started to come through …

[@SirNecro]

@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration He's completely transformed, and you've just started. It must be so satisfying to see your results especially when they're as profound as this. Well done again, I look forward to the next episode

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Next episode you will see the real character start to come through 😃

[@AlfFieldArt]

You improved the world a little today!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you 🙏 I like that ! It’s so nice to be able to repair something that has been damaged and return it to how it should be , like putting things back in order

[@unknownwake]

Absolutely delighted to get recommended an art restoration channel. I can't wait to see where this channel goes, would love to see you in a position for a nice mic!

[@lynnedelacy2841]

From piggy nose to distinguished gent

[@Figueiredoartconservation]

This is a very interesting video, thank you for showing us the technic to give the canvas better support during the cleaning.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you - yes just a temporary support for the painting till we decide what to do 👍

[@shortsweettoo]

Wow. You are doing a great job. Looking forward to your continued work.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you! More to come !!!

[@Skene63]

Hey, just want to say I really like your channel. Thank you for documentating your amazing work. It's really interesting and relaxing. 2 thumbs up from me.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you very much! Glad to hear it 🙏

[@megwolff58]

Already a stunning transformation! It was such a terrible piece, and now, as you say, his real face starts to emerge. Really exciting to watch, thanks!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you yes exciting and scary in equal measure but what a difference !!!

[@h10horseinfo]

What a cock up from the original 'restorers'. Happily he is expert hands now. Really look forward to the end result !

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , I guess he didn’t know when to stop !!!

[@janegreen9340]

Fascinating stuff. Consigned to the attic then the stables - I’m surprised it didn’t end up in a skip. Looking forward to the next step.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

I think that may well have been the next destination 😂 thankfully my client had the good sense and eye to save it !!

[@Garden366]

I love that we can now see the handiwork of the original artist who was obviously a portrait painter. The person who performed the “repainting” was definitely not an artist and his work turned the portrait into a cartoon. I can’t wait to see the sitter revealed!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Nice that it is still pretty intact underneath 🙏

[@NMGH]

I just found your site and want to thank you for your work. You have a new subscriber!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you 😊

[@jwbullfrog9583]

Handsome gentleman. it's good that we can see his proper face again

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes next episode we see more if the original and he looks great

[@ChrisRubeo]

I'm almost certain that abbreviated name is "John Williamson"

[@nardagerber4760]

Enjoy watching your videos so much. Thank you for sharing what you do. I have to say that it's quite nerve-wrecking to watch you remove all of that overpaint!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you so much! Yes it is for me too sometimes …

[@kyriosity]

Jn. Williamson - John. 🙂

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you 🙏 yes your right have had a few pointers on that 👍

[@dddrtrt7288]

You are working perfectly

[@jomercer21113]

I rented a house to a family of 5 chain smokers. After they moved out, we had to strip out all the carpeting, and it took 5 weeks of heavy cleaning to wash the brown gunk off the walls, ceilings, closets, and cabinetry. The subfloor smelled so bad, even after cleaning, that we had to put down a sealer coat before putting new carpeting in.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

It’s the worst !

[@joshatwwc]

Love the restoration, it's really interesting the differing techniques between your channel and baumgartner

[@joshatwwc]

I think I need to amend this. I don't mean any disrespect. I mean exactly what I said, I like the differences in the way you do it.

[@PINTandDALE]

Wow --tricky project! I look forward to seeing how it all comes out. Thanks for sharing it. Good luck!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thanks for watching! Lots more to reveal in part 2 👍

[@pgmorrow]

Welcome back! I would guess this kind of restoration is far more difficult than a painting with even heavy unintended damage.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , been a busy few weeks , good to be back , yes varnish removal and general cleaning much more straightforward!!

[@ingamajbjornstrom9400]

Very exciting episode, thank you!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , it gets better …

[@suemount6042]

Looking forward to part two

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , more to come

[@GrammyRose]

Terrific

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you 🙏

[@Jules_Pew]

Are you hoping to also uncover the original artist's signature? That would be a huge bonus.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

That would be amazing …nothing yet but I’m on the look out !!

[@amazinggrace5692]

You’ve come a long way since your first vid!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thankyou trying to improve all the time 🙏

[@danitajaye7218]

Wonderful video. Fascinating process! It is obvious how much skill and knowledge is needed in this case. Beautiful videography, excellent communication regarding the process, and fascinating portrait work!

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you 🙏

[@SherryRector]

He is actually a good looking man even with the small areas you did

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

He is quite striking !! Wait for next episode and you will see the difference

[@atelierthhun1165]

Hi, I believe Jn was commonly used as a contraction for John during that period, Best of luck with what looks like a ticklish job.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Cool I did wonder what it meant , yes a tricky few weeks ahead !!!

[@atelierthhun1165]

@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration There is a lithograph in the Wellcome collection listed as "after John Williamson " with a bit of a biography for him at the right period. Seems to have been a minor professional artist which would perhaps explain why he was keen on attribution !

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Great stuff , I’ll have to have a look thank you for posting 👍

[@christineingram55]

The chap who over painted him made him look flat and more of a caricature than what’s underneath.I bet they were heartbroken to have it back in that condition too.Shows there were Charlton’s in those days too.At least he looks more like a person now,quite a nice looking man actually considering he was a Banker lol! Looking forward to part two 🥰

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Ha !!! He certainly has more character to him now !! Let’s try and forgive him for being a banker !!! 🤣

[@cindyburesh5540]

Have you ever considered using a black light to reveal the overpainting, I understand this can be very helpful.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Hi yes I do use a UV light , problem here is the whole thing has been overpainted, it may come in useful further down the line when I’m getting closer to the original paint, the other issue this paint has been on a longtime and is a similar age to the original so the difference may not be as noticeable…

[@jill552]

I’m looking forward to seeing the completed restoration. Please make sure you give us good before and afters.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Will do !!! The difference is staggering already !!

[@ponysong2006]

I love how you are getting to know the real Patrick! Masked and suffocated for over 125 years but not dead

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

He’s coming back to life now !!

[@garetkonigsfeld2]

It started out looking like a practice portrait. Starting to look like a real painting.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , yes looks a lot more accomplished now

[@nickimontie]

I hope Eric takes you up on the offer of a tour. I would! But I'm in the U.S. 😊

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

I hope so too! 👍 let’s see 😃

[@trapdoorspider1238]

It's Eric thanks for this opportunity Jim 😊

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Your welcome Eric !!! See you soon 👍

[@josepherhardt164]

1:48 I think it's a "Jn"--probably short for John. If the guy had any history in art or restoration, he might be researchable. There was a John Williamson, landscape artist mainly, who lived in the US Northeast 1826-1885, but he usually signed his stuff "J.W." Also, the part of the world is wrong, and he didn't make it to 1896. Though he did paint "The Nervous Truant" in 1861, a figure that spookily reminds me of the regency gent.

[@turbo.panther]

Ok, so the repainting wasn't the best, but at least it's not as awful as the Ecco Homo fresco in Borja Spain! Maybe you could pop over there and fix that one?

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

I dont think they want it fixing !! They get more tourists now since it has been “restored” 😂😂

[@turbo.panther]

@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration I heard that too. While the whole story is shocking, the result is that more people see it which is the point of the image - behold the man. Awful for art lovers, great for the almighty euro. :)

[@missmurrydesign7115]

Delicious...

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you 😊

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

Suggestion: Original artist ... Thomas Phillips (1770 - 1845)?

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , I will have a look , he did do a lot of society portraits so could be a lead …

[@mirandadunsmore-gladue5477]

❤❤❤

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you 🙏

[@bonnieharris8855]

Why would this have been completely over-painted in the first place?

[@hikkeen]

I'm looking forward to seeing the future changes in this painting. I'm glad that things are improved enough that people are able to fix problems like this one. I also haven't noticed the squeaking from your floor so I am glad you were able to sort that out somehow.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Ha !! Thank you I think I am more conscious of it now and there’s a lot less walking around !! 😂😅

[@coolcutiekitti17]

Do you think they got it repainted because the varnish started to yellow and they didn't know/ask to have the varnish redone? Was that even possible back in 1896?

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes they could have had it cleaned , I think maybe over cleaned and then badly overpainted …

[@lynnedelacy2841]

It’s a shame that the painting has come out of the original family

[@pollyrobinson3877]

I wonder why you didn’t view the painting under black light to ID all of the overpainting areas? Truly curious, not criticizing.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

No it’s a good question , I did use UV but the overpainting was so old that it didn’t show up, UV shows up relatively new paint and paint that is on the varnish layer. In this instance there was no discernible difference and now we know he painted the whole canvas. When it’s partially overpainted the varnish will still show through and fluoresce.

[@allendean9807]

At what point has overpainting become too much a part of the original, making it impossible to remove? Or is it something that always has options?

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Sometimes it’s solidified and fused to the original , just depends how soon after it was applied and also how delicate the surrounding original paint layer is, sometimes it has to stay to avoid damaging the surrounding paint ….then it has to be touched over again …

[@mollyfrankel1835]

What is the solution you are using?

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

It’s a combination of a number of different chemicals…

[@patriciacooney5705]

Weren't you tempted to use a a gel suspension for the solvent and a light bristle brush to lightly scrub at the overpaint? Give his face a modern day exfoliating 😅

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Yes that could work too , with the different thickness of paint layers though I didn’t want to let anything dwell for too long !!! Just glad the blunt scalpel isn’t out yet !!

[@StarryDiadem]

Was it common practice then to overpaint so heavily? There doesn't seem to be any great damage to the original layer, so the Victorian's restorer decision to overpaint is surprising.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

No not really , and I haven’t found anything structural yet so maybe it had been cleaned and over cleaned ? And the restorer got carried away …

[@euchrideucrow1970]

The person responsible wasn’t a restorer, they were an assassin!! 😂

[@dannsherstone1037]

I wonder why the family had "restoration" done in the first place.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

I think they had it cleaned but the restorer went to far - no obvious structural damage yet ….

[@dianegraydon1143]

Oh wow, yes those lips and piggy nose ...he goes from more of a child's face to a defined man...great job

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you , was so pleased to remove that nose and those lips !!!

[@Thetabc24]

Was the Victorian restorer trying to bring the face into the asthetic of his time?

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

I’m not sure , I’ve worked on religious paintings before where this is the case , not sure with this one, maybe just over leaned and then the restorer got carried away …

[@wendymorrison5803]

The thumbnail alone is depressing. I hope to see more personality in the cleaned image.

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

I know it’s bad - it does improve though !!! Stick with me !!

[@stevesundstrom7867]

Great video, but it's a loupe.

[@nanarianne]

Wonderful content, but the crazy music is spoiling this experience 😢

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Which music do you not like the background or end credits ?

[@SaraMGreads]

It’s the background music. Very nice video otherwise!

[@am1903]

what's with the music? it's ruining your videos...

[@fortheloveofart82]

Please get rid of that music it spoils it .

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Is that the music within the film or the end sequence music ?

[@anitadavidson1266]

As always on your wonderful, history packed channel, a mystery is being revealed… So exciting!! I feel dumbfounded that the ‘restorer’ i.e. over painter was so pleased with his work, he signed it on the back?!? 🫣🤷🏼‍♀️ I have been AWOL from social media (again), and will have to gradually work my way back through the channel a little before I allow myself the treat of watching part two when it appears. All good things etc! 🎨🖌👩🏻‍🎨

[@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration]

Thank you so much! I know maybe he was pleased hadnt thought of that before 🤔maybe it was a confidence trick - maybe he thought they wouldn’t remember what it looked like 😆

[@anitadavidson1266]

@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration 😂😂

[@stefanwild326]