Restoration and cleaning of old paintings

Despite all precautionary measures, it is unavoidable that unframed picture surfaces become heavily soiled over time. In the case of varnish-coated works of art, it is often sufficient to remove the varnish layer with suitable solvents. High-quality synthetic resin varnishes can be removed for a long time with turpentine oil (50024, 50102) or turpentine substitute (50019). Older natural resin varnishes made of dammar or mastic often require stronger solvents. The special combination of alcohol, acetone and white spirit in the varnish remover (50060) has proved its worth here. Schmincke has also been offering two special products (50018, 50069) for cleaning and refreshing older oil paintings for a long time.

ATTENTION: All the products described in this chapter should only be left on the surface of the painting for as short a time as possible. Many classic oil and tempera painting techniques use resins that can be dissolved again in the solvents commonly used for varnish removal. Please ensure that no upper layers of colour are dissolved during cleaning! It is essential that you test the cleaning agents on an area that is not directly visible before actually using them. We also recommend having such work carried out by an expert restorer, especially in the case of valuable paintings.