An original cameral roll, possibly produced by students of Bede College, shows Conservators at work in a studio at the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead repairing and restoring various paintings and their frames using, what was then, modern conservation equipment. This film looks at the work and techniques used in repairing and cleaning paintings, some of which are many years old. The film shows the materials and tools deployed and the dedication of the Conservators in their skilful and...

An original cameral roll, possibly produced by students of Bede College, shows Conservators at work in a studio at the Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead repairing and restoring various paintings and their frames using, what was then, modern conservation equipment. This film looks at the work and techniques used in repairing and cleaning paintings, some of which are many years old. The film shows the materials and tools deployed and the dedication of the Conservators in their skilful and painstaking work. The film opens with an image of an old religious painting depicting the crucifixion. Close ups show detail of the picture including damage. In rapid succession a number of boards are held up in front of the painting, the first reads: ‘I – Before’, the second says the same but upside down and finally ‘I – Cleaning’. A close up follows of two heads of female figures in the painting. A Conservator wearing special glasses approaches the painting with a wad of cotton wool on a short stick. The Conservator cleans a small area on the head of one of the female figures. A stretched out arm holds a board in front of a picture, which reads I – Lt Hand Panel. There follows a static view of the panel followed by a closer view. A brief view of another board which reads I – Rt  Hand Panel. Again a general view follows then a closer view showing some detail. A static view of another painting, a mother and child, probably Jesus and Mary a very brief view of a board held in front of the painting followed by static view of the picture. A Conservator cleans a small area of the painting. A close up of the picture shows the small areas of the painting that have had dirt removed. The next sequence shows a Conservator using some elaborate magnifying machine where a painting is held horizontally in a special frame, and the microscope or similar device is located above it. A closer view of the equipment follows. The mother and child picture next appears on a table. A Conservator applies a special liquid with a paintbrush lays special paper or material over the top of the painting. Working from the centre outwards the painting is completely covered with the liquid. A closer view of the painting follows and a hand holding a fine knife points out the areas of damage. Another very brief section shows a board with writing which reads I – Spatula. Some heated wax or a similar material is applied to an area of damage on the painting. This is smoothed out using a heated burnishing tool.  Special paper or material is placed over the repaired area. An electrical appliance is shown with the burnishing tool attached to it. A closer view of the tool follows. The film then shows some fine work taking place using a very small knife or scraper. The Conservator is shown using special glasses and concentrating on the work in hand. They then brush the debris away. A view from above shows an array of tools laid out including a brush, scalpel and fine scraping tools. A close up of a damaged area of a painting is cleared of debris with a brush. A very brief overexposed view shows a board which reads ‘Removing Filling’. A close view of a painting shows the paint cracked and crazed. A blurred section shows some other detail. A close view shows a conservator working on a painting with a scalpel, then brushing the debris away. Next a Conservator repairs damage to a painting using a special paste and a fine spatula. More views follow of damage and repair using a number of tools laid out on a cloth. [Blank section] A painting is placed into a press and secured as more tools used in picture renovation and conservation are shown, including chisels and a medium and large brush. The chisels are deployed removing some wood from a picture frame [?] The film cuts to a detail at the edge of a painting where there are gaps in the detail and severe damage in the rest of it. General views show damage across the whole of the painting. The film then shows a Conservator cleaning an area of a painting seen earlier. The painting is removed from the easel it is on and placed on a table. The film ends as the special paper or material used earlier is applied to the painting.