The Taj Mahal

Artist: Unknown
Media: Probably either water or casein based
Date:19th Century

Condition.

The Taj Mahal was painted onto a finely woven textile attached or ‘marouflage’ onto a rigid board.

The painting was in extremely bad condition. The main concerns were the delamination between the textile and the board to form large blisters. There was also a weak horizontal paper hinge joining the narrow lower section to the main body of the artwork that needed reinforcing.

In addition to this, 15 screws had been drilled through the painting to secure it to the frame; there was widespread worm damage; extensive unsightly restoration paint and a severely discoloured varnish.

Treatment.

Restoration included formulating a conservation grade adhesive with gap filling properties to ensure a strong bond between the two sections, laying the blisters flat with minimal damage to the paint layers, a full clean, filling, retouching and the application of a fresh varnish to enhance the colours.

Courtesy of Plowden & Smith