AMERICAN SCHOOL OIL MOUNTAIN & LAKE SCENE

AMERICAN SCHOOL OIL ON CANVAS, SIGNED T. MORAN, C. 1860, 29 1/2" X 40", MOUNTAIN & LAKE SCENE:Framed; mountain scene with Lake in the foreground and people in two row boats. Originally sold by The Art Salon Auction Galleries (DuMouchelles) in the 1940's.

Great looking, high quality painting. As viewed under UV light in the unopened frame: c. 15% to 18% overpainting (generally spotty, but more along the bottom); old stabilized craquelure; lined; original stretchers; gilt frame is later in date. According to Ken Katz (Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation), who recently handled the restoration just completed on the painting: "The painting came in overpainted, covered in a thick varnish and exhibited many areas of previous damage and loss. It was lined. Treatment included the following: THE SURFACE GRIME WAS REMOVED, FOLLOWED BY REMOVAL OF OLD VARNISH AND PREVIOUS RESTORATIONS. DURING CLEANING, A GROUPING ON A FLAT BOAT WAS UNCOVERED IN THE LOWER LEFT QUADRANT. THIS PENTIMENTI HAD BEEN COVERED IN A LARGE OVERPAINT THAT DEPICTED A SHADOW. REMOVAL OF THIS RESTORATION REVEALED THE REFLECTIONS AND WATER NOW SEEN. AREAS OF LIFTING PAINT WERE SECURED LOCALLY AND LOSSES WERE REFILLED. WATERCOLORS WERE USED FOR INPAINTING, FOLLOWED BY APPLICATIONS OF VARNISH AND THEN GLAZED AND ADJUSTED WITH RESTORATION COLORS. THE PENTIMENTI WAS OVERPAINTED AS IT WAS DISTRACTING AND TOOK AWAY FROM THE OVERALL INTERPRETATION OF THE ART WORK."