Home>Conservation > Why we shouldn’t patch it up: how labels and patches on canvas tears distort paintings

Why we shouldn’t patch it up: how labels and patches on canvas tears distort paintings

6 thoughts on “Why we shouldn’t patch it up: how labels and patches on canvas tears distort paintings”

  1. Hello
    My idea is to attach a patch on its bias. Could that possibly be a solution that could work? Has anyone tried? Perhaps it would blend in with the painting in a more organic way as well.

    Reply
    • Hello Heidi,

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. We have not tested placing a patch with its weave direction at a 45° angle to the canvas, but would think it would not improve the situation. If you wish to try it, we recommend using a test canvas.

      Reply
  2. I’ve seen tear repairs done by a series of linen threads* ( I think of uneven length.) glued with space separations across the broken surface. I believe the tear being carefully edge glued first with the extra threads glued for added strength. From memory I think these might be called ‘bridge repairs’. With there not being an unbroken patch of cloth, there’s less of a solid shape to telegraph through to the front. If not your own work, best done by an expert.

    * Knut Nicolaus; ‘Restoration Paintings’ published 1999

    Reply
  3. Art restorers repair damage, so it is possible. Just that the correct methods of how to correctly repair are not being shared.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

*

css.php