Ouch! Normally the cleaning process in restoration videos is immensely satisfying, but this painting has been so severely abused - it's sad to watch the damage being revealed. I do wish you the best in your efforts to rescue this poor little fellow.
I agree that's a moth by the tips of the left-hand fingers - more symbolism of the shortness of childhood and, also, of the metamorphosis between childhood & adulthood.
Oh poor chap - it looks like that "restorer" cleaned with wire wool of the coarsest grade! The paint underneath of the red velvet is so beautiful and his ginger hair too. His face really resolved as you cleaned off the overpaint from a pouty stroppy spoiled kid to an engaging and bright little boy. I agree with others about the moth in his hand - perhaps some kind of tiger moth. The brown blob would make sense as the hairy patch behind the head. It fits perfectly with the theme of the brevity both of life and of innocent youth. Little boys were still being dressed in robes in the 1920s which doesn't help you date the picture but as you cleaned his robe Lawrence's influence became very apparent in the beautiful work in the robe and background. I hope you can restore this picture to something like its its former glory.
This is absolutely amazing! He didn't even look like a little boy to me until you started cleaning off the yellowed varnish and terrible overpainting. His hands look like hands now, and I couldn't even see the beautiful foliage before. My mouth literally fell open when you uncovered parts of what the original artist intended. To me, the painting turned from a caricature into a portrait of a sweet little boy. When you first began to describe this painting, I simply couldn't see what you saw, but I do now!
It is a moth. Latein: Arctia caja, english: garden tiger moth german: brauner Bär moth of the year 2021 a symbol of life and development but also fragility and transience
Thank you for this long video and letting us come along while cleaning and discovering the depth of this painting. I really enjoyed this! Even though there is so much damage he looks so much better than before. Can't wait for your retouching!
The quality of the velvet grown shines through. Hvy fabric , a lovely hand, that'll keep him warm. I'm learn so much from you. Apppreciate the master class. ❤
Such a lot hidden behind all that dirt and excess paint.He is looking so much better now.The one ear on the right in full view looks over painted,it’s too big for him. I love all the detail on and around the log stool,even the bugs.As always I am waiting patiently for the stabilising varnish and watching you make it look beautiful as if the artist had just walked away from it.And that’s what it’s all about 🥰
Well you certainly have a lot of work to do with this one! So far so good! His eyes are intact and look quite good and the painting on the gown as well. I agree that is a moth of some sort by his hand. I’m looking forward to the next time thank you for sharing with us. 👍🏼👋🏼
I receive pleasure and great relaxation watching art restoration. Your voice and your explanation of the process is very pleasing. I also watch Julian Baumgartner. You are both are a pleasure to watch. Thank you
It's definitely some sort of moth or similar on his hand. The bottom of the wings is towards his fingertips, and the insect's head is the dark blob. I'm glad that dark varnish is away, because it looked as though someone had destroyed the paint on his fingers, rather than a little insect (I've painted a silly amount of insects over the last month, especially moths, so I might've got my eye in 😅)
What you did with your wax-resin and the lining is very similar to how Baumgartner restoration does it. Though they use a different adhesive, it is a conservation adhesive that is both heat and solvent activated and comes as liquid, double sided film or pre-applied on pet film. It is clear and does not seem to soak that much trough heavy weave Belgian linen, so there is no need to hide the backside.
Thank you so much for your "Super Thanks"! your support is very much appreciated!! Im currently saving for a new camera for the channel as my phone is suffering so this is very helpful thankyou!
There are a number of UK moths featuring red on black. E.g, the Six-spot Burnet Moth of southern England (you'll have to search, if I post a link, this entire post vanishes). That's not an exact match to the painting, but there may be related moths.
I think there's a strong chance that the moth is a garden tiger moth. They are more brown than the red in the painting, but it's extremely similar. A google image search initially showed a lot of images with its wings spread, revealing the inner wings. I did find a few good images with its wings closed and I think it's a pretty good match.
I was looking at his hand before you started cleaning it and thought it looked like some kind of damage. Then, after seeing the beetle, I saw it was a butterfly. The black looks a little big for its head, but it could be part of a flower.
Love the foliage painting. Deciding if to overpaint the face or not is a tough one. I think trying to get it as close as you can to what the artist would of painted would be best. It's not like it's worth millions. I suppose it depends on the client and where they want to hang it.
I think this could be the bestoption, I will be speaking to the client this week and see what level of restoration they want - I think theres enough of his face left to see his character but there are still areas that re quite jarring to view....
Sharing your sadness at the vandalism of this portrait (and the regency gent). Such a shame the family fell victim to an arrogant, self aggrandising person. I hope this beautiful boy will be every bit as successful as your last restoration.
The insect in the child's hand is a butterfly, I think. Already in antiquity, the butterfly symbolised the soul or psyche (from Greek = soul), fragility and shortness of life. It commonly appears as such on engraved gems used as private amulets by the Greeks and the Romans, mounted in mourning rings put into the graves with the deceased or carried in remembrance of the death. You can also check the story of Cupid and Psyche, the latter is often depicted as a butterfly in reference to their story and again psyche = soul, that is common in paintings. The concept continues into the modern era. The picked flowers seem to me another symbol of the fragility of life. Assuming this, the portrait should be posthumous, commissioned to commemorate the child.
Getting on five weeks now. The retouching must be proving to be a nightmare. So much detail is lost - what to put back? What should the face look like?
Would it be acceptable to use your expertise and make an educated guess to repaint areas as you could perceive them without a reference to go on by using an artistic license? Great vlog.🤔.
@@suecolavecchio9676 Yes sorry I have a new Mic and all the to camera audio went to the left channel! so if you only had right earpod in you couldnt hear it 🤦♂ still learning here !
@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration I'm deaf in my left ear, so I just thought there was no sound! But now I know to go back & watch with the OTHER ear bud lol 😅
I do believe it's a moth/butterfly but it could be a crocheted hankie, sometimes they made a loop to go over the finger so you didn't drop it. I would suspect that more if it were a girl and if bugs weren't already present. I do believe that brown blob is in the head area, just behind it. This one was a butcher job. Too many decisions on how to proceed
The more you cleaned his face, the more he looks like a little boy. It was interesting to see through your loupe. There was a lot of painting history that can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Sorry about this I’ve been using a new Mic and it seems to only have recorded on the left channel ! Will fix for next video , thanks for letting me know 🙏
Well, it's certainly been done dirty and abused over the years. Using a bit of imagination, the face looks to have been done fairly well, but problems with the ear, hands, and wonky limbs/body.
Oof your audio in the left channel... that was disorienting lol but as for the painting... how stupid and careless can one be to destroy such artworks?!
Apologies I’ve been using a new Mic and for some reason it’s only recording the left channel - it’s a Rode go 2 so need to figure out that - will fix it for next video thanks for letting me know 🙏
All I want is to fix those awkward, out of scale legs emerging from some grotesque, imaginary pelvis. Trouble is, the root cause is compositional. Restoration won't address it.
The first 500 people to use my link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare" skl.sh/bloomfieldartrestoration07241
40 Minutes! Put it on pause, make a fancy coffee (mmmm caramel Nespresso) and settle in for a midday treat! Hello from Virginia.
I'm following directly behind you. Nespresso café' Grand Milano Crema for me. Thank you!
Right behind you. Vanilla Nespresso
And I'm eating pizza and drinking cream soda. 🤪
I believe that could be a moth, and the brown blob is the fuzzy "cape" that some moths have just below their heads.
I agree it's a moth
Thirding: It's a moth. Hunh. Interesting detail.
Yes...and it's resting on top of his fingertips; he's not holding it.
Ouch! Normally the cleaning process in restoration videos is immensely satisfying, but this painting has been so severely abused - it's sad to watch the damage being revealed. I do wish you the best in your efforts to rescue this poor little fellow.
Thank you yes not a straightforward one at all!! some tough decesions to make...Ill post a nice easy clean soon!
I agree that's a moth by the tips of the left-hand fingers - more symbolism of the shortness of childhood and, also, of the metamorphosis between childhood & adulthood.
Thanks for the long video, I like the restoration process, however listening to the commentary is the best part, the voice is terrific.
Looks like a species of Burnet moth, which have red & black wings with a pronounced black fuzzy hump on the thorax.
Jut googled that and it does have a very fuzzy round back!
Oh poor chap - it looks like that "restorer" cleaned with wire wool of the coarsest grade! The paint underneath of the red velvet is so beautiful and his ginger hair too. His face really resolved as you cleaned off the overpaint from a pouty stroppy spoiled kid to an engaging and bright little boy. I agree with others about the moth in his hand - perhaps some kind of tiger moth. The brown blob would make sense as the hairy patch behind the head. It fits perfectly with the theme of the brevity both of life and of innocent youth. Little boys were still being dressed in robes in the 1920s which doesn't help you date the picture but as you cleaned his robe Lawrence's influence became very apparent in the beautiful work in the robe and background. I hope you can restore this picture to something like its its former glory.
Just coming to make sure I didn’t miss a video! Looking forward to the next one :)
This is absolutely amazing! He didn't even look like a little boy to me until you started cleaning off the yellowed varnish and terrible overpainting. His hands look like hands now, and I couldn't even see the beautiful foliage before. My mouth literally fell open when you uncovered parts of what the original artist intended. To me, the painting turned from a caricature into a portrait of a sweet little boy. When you first began to describe this painting, I simply couldn't see what you saw, but I do now!
It is a moth. Latein: Arctia caja, english: garden tiger moth german: brauner Bär moth of the year 2021 a symbol of life and development but also fragility and transience
The marking on the wing are pretty much identical and he does have a very fuzzy head! thank you ! I think we have it!
Rosary in this hand.
Thank you for this long video and letting us come along while cleaning and discovering the depth of this painting. I really enjoyed this! Even though there is so much damage he looks so much better than before. Can't wait for your retouching!
I congratulate you on your professionalism. I dislike this painting so much I would find it hard to work on. Looking forward to the next steps.
This is a bittersweet restoration. Poor little guy got scrubbed down hard.
Your amazing work aside, i quite enjoy the weather reports.
The quality of the velvet grown shines through. Hvy fabric , a lovely hand, that'll keep him warm.
I'm learn so much from you. Apppreciate the master class. ❤
Man he was destroyed by whoever cleaned him. Lots of decisions to be made. Looking forward to seeing how you tackle this
Such a lot hidden behind all that dirt and excess paint.He is looking so much better now.The one ear on the right in full view looks over painted,it’s too big for him. I love all the detail on and around the log stool,even the bugs.As always I am waiting patiently for the stabilising varnish and watching you make it look beautiful as if the artist had just walked away from it.And that’s what it’s all about 🥰
The red velvet looks rich and soft - very luxurious. I wish I could paint like that! Can't wait to see the whole painting completely restored!
Well you certainly have a lot of work to do with this one! So far so good! His eyes are intact and look quite good and the painting on the gown as well. I agree that is a moth of some sort by his hand. I’m looking forward to the next time thank you for sharing with us. 👍🏼👋🏼
Can't wait for the next episode! Very fascinating restoration. Thank you.
The instant reveal if the 2 buttercup flowers gives hope for the rest of the painting
Oh, oh! It's a moth!! I am so relieved; I thought he might have an injury or congenital malformation. 😅
I receive pleasure and great relaxation watching art restoration. Your voice and your explanation of the process is very pleasing. I also watch Julian Baumgartner. You are both are a pleasure to watch.
Thank you
Looks like a butterfly on his fingers.
It's definitely some sort of moth or similar on his hand. The bottom of the wings is towards his fingertips, and the insect's head is the dark blob. I'm glad that dark varnish is away, because it looked as though someone had destroyed the paint on his fingers, rather than a little insect (I've painted a silly amount of insects over the last month, especially moths, so I might've got my eye in 😅)
He also has a black beetle beside his thigh to the left of the painting amongst some of the clover flowers.
@@Victoriaghh I love a bug painting.
@@nikkia9506 Same here!
Yay new video, can’t wait to see how this painting turns out. 🤗
Can't wait to see what's next.
What you did with your wax-resin and the lining is very similar to how Baumgartner restoration does it. Though they use a different adhesive, it is a conservation adhesive that is both heat and solvent activated and comes as liquid, double sided film or pre-applied on pet film. It is clear and does not seem to soak that much trough heavy weave Belgian linen, so there is no need to hide the backside.
Much better! Thanks again for a great video!
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your "Super Thanks"! your support is very much appreciated!! Im currently saving for a new camera for the channel as my phone is suffering so this is very helpful thankyou!
Thanks for the upload! :) ❤
There are a number of UK moths featuring red on black. E.g, the Six-spot Burnet Moth of southern England (you'll have to search, if I post a link, this entire post vanishes). That's not an exact match to the painting, but there may be related moths.
Wonderful!
Thanks Nina!
I vote for a moth! I love moths...so glad to see that is what it is.
I just can't believe all of the overpaint on this! It's criminal!
I think there's a strong chance that the moth is a garden tiger moth. They are more brown than the red in the painting, but it's extremely similar. A google image search initially showed a lot of images with its wings spread, revealing the inner wings. I did find a few good images with its wings closed and I think it's a pretty good match.
I agree I've just googled it and I think thats the one
I was looking at his hand before you started cleaning it and thought it looked like some kind of damage. Then, after seeing the beetle, I saw it was a butterfly. The black looks a little big for its head, but it could be part of a flower.
Love the foliage painting. Deciding if to overpaint the face or not is a tough one. I think trying to get it as close as you can to what the artist would of painted would be best. It's not like it's worth millions. I suppose it depends on the client and where they want to hang it.
I think this could be the bestoption, I will be speaking to the client this week and see what level of restoration they want - I think theres enough of his face left to see his character but there are still areas that re quite jarring to view....
Sharing your sadness at the vandalism of this portrait (and the regency gent). Such a shame the family fell victim to an arrogant, self aggrandising person. I hope this beautiful boy will be every bit as successful as your last restoration.
Could possibly have been Nottingham lace ?
James, do you have any images of your copies on line for viewing? I would enjoy seeing some of them.
Nothing online sorry I will see if I have some in my archive to share at some point...
Could UV or IR photography reveal the artists signature?
I tihnk any signature that may have been present is long gone...
The family must have been disappointed with the previous restoration
Looks like a purse in his hand to me the dark blob is a clasp for closing
Have you finished restoration of this painting?
Yes for now, part 4 on Patreon Part 5 on You tube
the brown blob looks like the head of a moth sitting on his folded closed fingers wow
Where did you go????
Sorry busy summer in the studio,
The insect in the child's hand is a butterfly, I think. Already in antiquity, the butterfly symbolised the soul or psyche (from Greek = soul), fragility and shortness of life. It commonly appears as such on engraved gems used as private amulets by the Greeks and the Romans, mounted in mourning rings put into the graves with the deceased or carried in remembrance of the death. You can also check the story of Cupid and Psyche, the latter is often depicted as a butterfly in reference to their story and again psyche = soul, that is common in paintings. The concept continues into the modern era. The picked flowers seem to me another symbol of the fragility of life. Assuming this, the portrait should be posthumous, commissioned to commemorate the child.
i would say the thing on the boys left hand would be some type of moth the brown "blob" being the fuzzy back
I think it's a moth, possibly a Six-spot burnet moth?
Getting on five weeks now. The retouching must be proving to be a nightmare. So much detail is lost - what to put back? What should the face look like?
Yes it was a challenge !
It's still so much nicer to see what is left of the original artist than the sadder "refresh" work!
That's what I thought it was the center of a flower. And the pedals were cleaned off
I thought he was holding a rosary.
maybe a hankerchief
Would it be acceptable to use your expertise and make an educated guess to repaint areas as you could perceive them without a reference to go on by using an artistic license?
Great vlog.🤔.
what do you use for varnish remover?
I wonder if the solution changes depending on the project
@MacLeodddd he changed it during this one, diluting it when he saw how bad it was.
@@Victoriaghhit can change also according to the colour of the paint as some colours are less stable than others
The child was a red head and so had very fair skin. A later artist thought he looked pallid.
This was a great video but when you were speaking directly to the camera, there was no sound. When we saw the painting, I can hear you.
I can hear you now. I always enjoy your videos!
@@suecolavecchio9676 Yes sorry I have a new Mic and all the to camera audio went to the left channel! so if you only had right earpod in you couldnt hear it 🤦♂ still learning here
!
@@Bloomfield_Art_Restoration I'm deaf in my left ear, so I just thought there was no sound! But now I know to go back & watch with the OTHER ear bud lol 😅
I do believe it's a moth/butterfly but it could be a crocheted hankie, sometimes they made a loop to go over the finger so you didn't drop it. I would suspect that more if it were a girl and if bugs weren't already present. I do believe that brown blob is in the head area, just behind it. This one was a butcher job. Too many decisions on how to proceed
I hope the first conservator never turned to surgery, that would have been a disaster, a beauty coming back as frankensteine's monster.
the brown bit looks like the head of a moth.
The more you cleaned his face, the more he looks like a little boy. It was interesting to see through your loupe. There was a lot of painting history that can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Removing the awful strokes on his cheeks throws your attention immediately to his eyes - what a difference Now it’s his left ear that looks ‘wrong’
It almost looks like he's holding a badly rendered pomegranate
Sound off in a few places
Actually the narrative is only in the left earbud and I usually only listen with the right earbud.
@@susancary510 so glad you pointed this out, I couldn’t work out why the sound was missing in the presentation to camera sections.
Sorry about this I’ve been using a new Mic and it seems to only have recorded on the left channel ! Will fix for next video , thanks for letting me know 🙏
Well, it's certainly been done dirty and abused over the years. Using a bit of imagination, the face looks to have been done fairly well, but problems with the ear, hands, and wonky limbs/body.
Oof your audio in the left channel... that was disorienting lol but as for the painting... how stupid and careless can one be to destroy such artworks?!
Apologies I’ve been using a new Mic and for some reason it’s only recording the left channel - it’s a Rode go 2 so need to figure out that - will fix it for next video thanks for letting me know 🙏
All I want is to fix those awkward, out of scale legs emerging from some grotesque, imaginary pelvis. Trouble is, the root cause is compositional. Restoration won't address it.
Yes theres not much to be done with those legs Im afraid!