Keeping Up Appearances (3) - An Exhibition at Guernsey Museum in 2005

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES 1 \| 2 \| 3 *An exhibition of recently conserved artworks and historic costume* Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery, 5th November - 31st December 2005

SJRH.2 - Before conservation		SJRH.2 - After conservation
The subject of this good quality oil portrait was previously unknown to us but has now been identified as James, 4th Lord de Saumarez. He is depicted wearing Parliamentary robes and was painted by the artist Thérése Geraldy; the year 1912 is inscribed in Roman numerals, on the upper right corner of the canvas. What appears to be a copy of the Daily Telegraph newspaper is partially exposed below the expensive, leather bound volumes under the sitter's arm. This painting had shown the signs of being exposed to fluctuating temperature and relative humidity, which had resulted in extensive drying craquelure (a web of fine cracks) and buckling (a distortion of the canvass). The surface of the painting was also very dirty, with nicotine staining and heavily discoloured varnish. The conservator treated the buckling by carefully re-tensioning the canvass, being careful not to put too much tension on the paint layers. The surface was cleaned and the old varnish removed. Any losses of paint were filled with gesso and retouched with removable dry pigment in a synthetic medium. The painting was then varnished, which saturates the colours, as well as offering some protection from dust and dirt. .
About the exhibition Despite the whimsical title, this is a serious exhibition showing off works belonging to the States of Guernsey (not all from the museum's own collection) which have recently undergone conservation and/or restoration. The differences between these terms will be explained and illustrated, together with recommendations for picture owners about simple preventative conservation measures they can employ to keep their own artworks in good condition. The exhibition particularly features a number of Victorian or early 20th century portraits of unknown sitters. Any assistance from visitors who might be able to identify the subjects will be gratefully received. In addition to the artworks, the exhibition will also include the sumptuous cape or mantle bearing the Order of the Bath insignia and an Elizabethan-style costume, worn by Admiral Lord James de Saumarez to the coronation of George IV in 1823. These unique costume items have recently been acquired by the museum and have also just been conserved.