Painting over a masterpiece

[Jellyfire]

Thought this might be of interest to those with interest in Georgian interiors. About the redecoration of Kenwood house

http://heritagecalling.com/2013/11/28/painting-over-a-masterpiece/?utm_source=Hootsuite&utm_medium=Hootsuite&utm_campaign=Hootsuite%20Conversion

 

[Flyfisher]

I wonder what colour scheme Adam would have chosen if he'd had access to the almost infinite range of colours we enjoy today?

 

[Lime]

I wonder what colour scheme Adam would have chosen if he'd had access to the almost infinite range of colours we enjoy today?

Gilding is almost as old as the hills so if Adam had wanted to use it he would have done.

 

[stephenh]

Interesting post; interesting article. Thanks
I was there in the 60s as part of the decorating team from the old firm of Campell Smith.
I was particularly concerned with the library.
" so it wasn’t surprising that some of the shades of blues and pinks had been slightly off the mark (usually bolder than Adam’s original tones)."
Part of my job was to research where the paintings had been hanging (forever - as it were) because the sample paints from these areas would give the original colours and from elsewhere the paint would be faded.
I have a sneeking suspicion that they have taken their samples from exposed and faded areas and thus the difference in tone.

I also challenge anyone to take a layer of paint off a previously gilded surface and leave the underlying leaf intact !
Possible in the conservation department in the British Museum et al. but not commercially.

thanks again for the post.

stephenh

 

[plasticpigeon]

I'm going to declare no knowledge of Georgian decoration, especially not on this grand scale, but I would be asking, if some of Adam's drawings show parts of the library gilded, then if it wasn't gilded at the time of construction but a short time after, could that have been due to cost constraints for example or some other practical reason??? If the drawings show gilding it would make me think that this might have been the designer's vision, which might be more important than original construction. Personally I like the gilding.

 

[Lime]

I'm often amused how modern restorers assume their way is superior to previous attempts to turn back/hold back time and, in this instance in particular, the previous restorers were unable to match paint correctly, viz. "analysis has become more sophisticated since".
It would be easy to make disparaging remarks but arrogance has been with us since time began.
Nearly all restorers I have spoken to have it in large quantities.

... rather like the plumber or electrician who, called in to assess a job, always finds fault with the existing installation.

 

[LadyArowana]

I liked it better with the gilding. I would have been one of the ones voting for option 3, to change the colours and leave the gilding, I also like PP's point that there may have been logistical reasons why things shown on the plans were not implemented until some considerable time later.

 

[paulb33]

"Do nothing: this would be quick and cheap, but hardly anyone liked this, knowing it was wrong (and in the event, we found that the room needed repairs quite badly)".

Reads to me like someone was desperate to get the paint brushes out. I imagine that option 1 would have been considerably cheaper. Money saved could have been spent on something more 'deserving'.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I also challenge anyone to take a layer of paint off a previously gilded surface and leave the underlying leaf intact !
Possible in the conservation department in the British Museum et al. but not commercially.

The "conservation builders" who botched up parts of my house couldn't take masonry paint off limestone without damaging the stone underneath, so as Stephen says, what chance has anyone of removing that much paint of such intricate plasterwork without damaging what's underneath.

Stephen, it is a real shame that the modern restorers didn't consult with you and other previous restorers before diving in. It sounds like they have probably made a mistake with the colours as well as the gilding IMHO.

 

[JoceAndChris]

How fascinating! I love this place and used to take parties of Japanese students round. I liked it as it was, but it looks very restrained and beautifully English right now so I'm going to sit on the fence and withhold my judgement until I see it properly. It was a shame that Gareth and I went to visit this summer and it was closed for redeccy! We consoled ourselves with cake - the tea shop is great.