Month 11 (May 2012)
This month I have been mostly... Marvelling at paper repairs!
I was excited to see the return of the first batch of items selected for conservation treatment. The difference a few hours of expert attention can make to an object is truly amazing! Back in the February diary entry you can see a picture of the manuscript of Butler’s ‘Odyssey’ translation, with its dirty, torn covers and mould growing between the pages. It’s since been professionally cleaned, repaired, protected with a removable melanex cover, and housed in a made-to-measure, archival drop-spine box (see right) – and is looking much more cheerful, as I’m sure you’ll agree.
Butler's MS 'Odyssey' translation - II/3/4
The most dramatic transformation, however, was undergone by two C18th prints I previously found tucked away in the bottom of a box of Butler’s photographs. Both are prints after famous paintings: ‘The Fortune Teller’ by Joshua Reynolds (dated 1786) and ‘The Woodman’ by Thomas Gainsborough (dated 1791). The prints must have belonged to Butler, but evidently hadn’t been hung on his wall, as neither was mounted or framed, and both were in a very poor condition – completely filthy, and torn and ragged round the edges. The conservators dry-cleaned then washed the prints (using professional methods – please don’t try it at home!), removing what appeared to be an oily residue (possibly candle-smoke) from the surfaces of the pictures. The tears were then repaired or filled, and the prints affixed to protective, hinged mounts, which will enable them to be displayed. The tonal qualities and bright highlights, which you couldn’t see at all before, are striking, and beautiful – just as they would’ve been when the pictures were originally printed.
'The Fortune Teller', after the painting by Joshua Reynolds - IX/Folio3/9
Following all this excitement, I did manage to complete the cataloguing of the remaining sections of the boxed collection (II, III, IV and V), and in a few days’ time I’ll upload the entire catalogue to the Janus website. Watch this space!
'The Woodman', after the painting by Thomas Gainsborough - IX/Folio3/7