A student of the master’s degree at the Portucalense University “Artistic Heritage, Conservation and Restoration”, Marta Arreiol, was responsible for accompanying the restoration of a painting by the renowned Francisco José Resende, a romantic painter from Porto in the 19th century, and also the father of Clara de Resende.
The artist, who always had an enormous meaning for the city of Porto, and painted portraits, landscapes and religious themes, was forever known for his excellence in portraying popular customs. The work in question, restored by Artur Jaime Duarte at the University’s Conservation and Restoration Clinic with the collaboration of the 2nd cycle in Artistic Heritage, Conservation and Restoration, is a 115.3 cm high oil painting on canvas and 79 cm wide, dated 1890, visible date next to the painter’s signature.
The work under study is a frontal portrait of a female figure, represented standing, in front of a clear background. The state of conservation of this painting was quite bad, most likely due to its tragic past and its place of exhibition.
“The support had several tears and gaps, where on the back it was possible to see two patches previously made. The polychrome layer still had a lot of accumulated dirt, traces of fungus activity, gaps, and some punctual wear. The varnish was very oxidized which caused the colors to change throughout the painting”, he explains.
In this intervention, the basic deontological principles of conservation and restoration were followed, where the original and historical identity of the work was respected. The choice and respective use of materials and techniques throughout the intervention took into account factors such as originality, compatibility, and reversibility.
The Conservation and Restoration Clinic of Universidade Portucalense has been restoring several works of great interest and historical importance, in partnership with Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Amarante, where the paintings will later be exhibited.
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