This wonderful oil on panel has a period Dutch frame that unfortunately has a number of problems and will need a full restoration. Those problems include ornamentation falling off, corners pulled apart, areas with lost gilding, and improper spacing that is strenuous for the painting.

Casts will be prepared to redo the ornamentation, and the corners re-joined. Where the gesso was lost, new gesso will be applied. Back-up will be added to allow the painting to sit with greater freedom, and the epoxy on the panel will be removed,  and the cupping and cracking existent there, will be repaired with a combination of restorer adhesives.

The painting has a varnish that has aged into a milky color. It will need to be removed, which will be more challenging than usual. Early tests have revealed a wonderful touch of white in the varnish that the artist used to mimic snow. Shellac also landed on the paint surface and left splotches. These will be carefully removed.

We discovered a signature behind the rabbet and are in the process of identifying it.