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Restoration Stories: The Themes of a Dutch Landscape

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AnonymousUser-5 AnonymousUser-5

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Define thin? Here's what Mayer says: "In the case of a picture of common or average thickness the drying time will be from three to six months. Very heavy paint may take longer, very thin paint less than three months. Extremely thin layers and glazes may be varnished as soon as they have become dry to the touch."  That little panel appears to have a rather rough surface which could have made the removal of the old varnish without disturbing underlying paint a bit tricky. However, one would expect a competent restorer to notice whether or no they're removing paint as well as old varnish. The losses should have been retouched---surely they must have noticed 'em. Anyhow it's not in the same street as the awful damage done to Jan van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece. That really is a train wreck(!) Mr "see-no-evil" seems to have given up the ghost. I think he's gone to make himself a nice warm milky drink.  

AnonymousUser-5 AnonymousUser-5

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By the by, for anyone who might care to see what a genuinely competent restoration looks like, follow the link below. The article shows before and after pictures of a small (9.5 x 4.5cm) panel by Anthonie van der Croos. The painting has been expertly cleaned of old varnish and two prominent scratches without the slightest hint of paint loss. It’s not a threat to the memory of Jacob van Ruisdael, but it’s a nice little piece. Anthonie and Jacob van der Croos were good artists and their work has great charm. To forestall any possible criticism by persons who “sense” images, as opposed to seeing them, I think the quality of the reproduction is perfectly sufficient for the discerning viewer to form an opinion of the veracity of the description “competent restoration”. https://www.bobscholteart.com/en/post/anthonie-jansz-van-der-croos-a-17th-century-panoramic-landscape

Norrette Moore

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...It’s not a threat to the memory of Jacob van Ruisdael, but it’s a nice little piece. ...
Tom Henshaw on 03/02/2026 03:41:09
The other Anthonie Croos you posted earlier does remind me of Ruisdael. That slash of sunlight running from right to left, often appears.
forum pic p.o

Peter Smith

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As far as I can see it was a bit of a non event as a painting anyway - just because something is old doesn't automatically mean it's any good. 

AnonymousUser-5 AnonymousUser-5

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Nobody suggested the panel discussed in my initial post was any good---in fact I believe I covered that myself. That wasn't the point of the post. The point was that it was being touted as a shining example of the conservator's art---which it clearly isn't. 
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