Cracks and chips happen. They are a natural part of the aging process. As a painted object ages, it is exposed to many elements which can affect the painting. Humidity, temperature changes, sun exposure, in addition to normal wear and tear, can cause paint cracking and chipping. Cracking and chipping are natural occurrences that are often very normal in aged paintings.
Treatment: Paint cracks should not be filled in. The fact that they are visible is part of the original creation of the piece by the artist. Filling cracks will alter the original intention of the artist. When this is done it is called “patching” a painting.
The same philosophy has to be applied when addressing paint chips; any repairs that are made must also stay in character with the rest of the painting’s surface as well as match its existing surface texture/appearance. Repairs should be kept simple and subtle.
For more information about how to deal with cracks and chips, please visit my blog: http://antiquesbydebbieblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/help-my-neoclassical-painting-is-already-cracking-or-chipping-what-should-i-do_2html
Neoclassical paintings are painted with Egg Tempera on a flat panel. Egg tempera is an oil based paint that is made up of egg yolk, pigment, and drying agent. In the past they would make it in the traditional way which involved grinding pigments into a paste of egg yolk and then thinning this paste with oil to make the paint, but most modern painters use one of several premade egg tempera paints that are mixed with just enough oil to make them liquid.
The main characteristic of egg tempera is that it dries very slowly. This was great for the old masters because it meant that they could put a layer down, let it dry for days or even weeks, then come back and paint something else on top without worrying about the original layer getting messed up. The downside to this slow drying time is that it means that neoclassical paintings are especially susceptible to cracking and chipping if they are not handled properly.
I am a professional artist and have had years of experience with both commissioned and non-commissioned artwork. I have also been an art teacher for 12 years. So…I’m going to put this out there…NEOCLASSICAL ART IS NOT INDESTRUCTIBLE.
But, it’s pretty durable, too!
I’ve had several pieces of neoclassical artwork that were created over 10 years ago that have survived many moves, even some from coast-to-coast.
The following is general advice on how to handle neoclassical art. Some of it will be specific to certain types and styles of paintings. I’ll do my best to make sure the advice given is useful to you in your situation.
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“So this chap commissioned a neoclassical painting. He was really pleased with the result, but after hanging it up for a few days, noticed some cracks. He was devastated and immediately called us in to see what we could do”
Now, I’m no expert in art restoration, but there are several ways to handle this kind of problem. For example, you can hire someone to fix the cracks, or if you are feeling adventurous and want to save some money, you can try the following:
1. Remove all the damaged areas from the painting with a scalpel. This will leave your painting looking like a jigsaw puzzle of different-sized pieces of canvas.
2. Applying a transparent acrylic varnish (eg – GAC 100 by Daler Rowney) over the whole surface of your painting will firmly hold all the pieces in place.
3. Once dry, gently rub down all edges with a sandpaper block until they are smooth and even again. 4. Finally, apply another layer of varnish to seal everything in place. You may need more than one layer depending on how thickly your artist applied the paint or how many cracks there are.”
Hi! I’m one of the artists and co-owners of the newly opened Studio 21 Fine Art Restoration. We recently had an inquiry from a blog reader who owns a beautiful piece of art that has developed some cracks in it. She wrote:
“Hi, I have a painting that is about 80 years old, and it’s started chipping off with the front door. What should I do? I don’t want to mess it up.”
There are many options you have with this type of problem. You can leave it alone and let nature take its course, you can take it to an expert at a museum, or if you’re interested in having us restore your artwork, please e-mail me with specifics and we’ll give you an estimate.”
Since this is a frequently asked question, I thought we’d share it here with all our readers!
The first thing to do is to make sure that the artwork really is cracking or chipping. Sometimes what seems like paint loss is actually just dirt on the surface that can be cleaned off. If there are cracks in the paint itself (as opposed to on the surface), then there’s not much you can do except to leave it alone and let time take its course. If you have any doubts about whether
There are a number of ways to handle cracking and chipping in your artwork.
1) Do nothing. Some people will tell you not to touch it at all, but if you like the artwork and want to keep it, there is no reason not to have it repaired or restored. A lot of beautiful artwork was painted 200 years ago and has experienced far worse than a few cracks.
2) Consider having the work touched up. There are artists who specialize in restoration who can match the paint exactly and make the work look nearly new. This is usually a good option if you want to keep the painting, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on it or change its appearance dramatically.
3) Consider having the work reframed or remounted. This is a great way to give an older piece of art a whole new life if you’re tired of looking at it or want something with a different look altogether. Again, this is often less expensive than you’d expect, because there is so much labor involved in removing the old frame and then putting a new one on (which often means stretching new canvas).
4) Consider putting your painting up for sale and using that money for something else you enjoy, like going out to eat with friends or
Most artworks are not designed to withstand 20th century climatic conditions. They may not have been designed to be installed outside either, or in a location with such a high UV index.
To help prevent further damage, fix the cracks as soon as you see them. You will also want to discuss options for repair with your dealer/restorer or artist. The best advice is: try to keep your artwork indoors for as long as possible (if you can’t do this, at least try to keep it out of direct sunlight and rain).
If you decide to repair the paint surface in the future, consider the following:
Do NOT use paints containing solvents (including varnishes), waxes, oils or pigments that contain solvents or waxes. Anything that can soften or melt your paint layers will cause further damage, possibly irreparable.
You should NEVER use these products on damaged paintings:
Solvent-based adhesives and sealants
Latex caulking compounds
Water-based glues (white glue) and adhesives that contain water/moisture
Alcohol-based products (paint solvents)
Waxes (car waxes and furniture polishes)
