How do I care for antique watercolours?

Keep watercolours away from direct sunlight to prevent the pigments and paper from fading over time. Display them in rooms with stable humidity levels to protect both the paper and the original frame. Ensure the glazing is intact and that the artwork does not press directly against the glass, which can cause condensation damage. Professional framing with acid-free backing materials safeguards the piece for decades.

What is a silhouette portrait?

A silhouette is a profile likeness, usually cut from dark paper or painted in solid black against a light background. These portable portraits gained immense popularity during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Artists often added subtle gold leaf highlights to clothing or hair to create dimension within the flat black shape. They were frequently mounted in small wood or papier-mâché frames for domestic display.

Are these oil paintings on canvas or panel?

Nineteenth-century paintings utilise both woven canvas stretched over wooden frames and rigid wooden panels. Canvas was standard for larger works, allowing artists to achieve grand scales for domestic or institutional display. Smaller portraits were frequently painted on prepared wood panels, which provided a smooth, stable surface for fine detail work. Both supports show distinct craquelure patterns as the oil medium ages naturally.