Project Summary:

This work came to us in September of 2026 after the Science History Institute, also located in Philadelphia, requested to prepare the painting for an upcoming exhibition. This scene of an Alchemist at work is likely a replica created by a student of David Teniers the Younger, created in the 16th-17th CE, est. Art students of that period often copied their master’s works and added additions as an improvement. The original painting by Teniers, differs slightly in its composition and elements. This oil painting has gone through multiple campaigns of restoration with evidence of a re-lining, and large areas of overpaint as seen in ultraviolet illumination. We aimed to remove the surface grime, repair and fill the tears, apply a resaturating varnish and inpaint the surface to regain readability for the Institute’s exhibition. Additionally, the frame was actively flaking and had numerous areas of loss. Our goal was to improve the structural stability of the paint and improve visual continuity in comparison to other frames in their collection.

We removed the wooden frame and dry cleaned the front and back of the painting. The paint surface was cleaned with an aqueous solution and a solvent cleaning to remove an extraneous layer from a previous restoration. The tears were mended using a reversible adhesive and cellulose powder, then filled with a gesso. The painting was revarnished and inpainted. The frame was consolidated, and decorative elements were molded to recreate larger areas of loss.