How do I care for an antique oil portrait?

Keep the canvas away from direct sunlight and steady the room humidity to prevent the wood stretcher and canvas from warping. Dust the surface gently with a dry, soft brush and avoid using any liquid cleaners on the paint film.

What is the difference between an oil and a mezzotint?

An oil painting is a unique hand-painted work using pigments suspended in oil on canvas or panel. A mezzotint is an ink print on paper created from an engraved metal plate to replicate painted portraits for wider distribution.

How can I tell the period of the frame?

Period frames are constructed from heavy timber with hand-carved decorative motifs and applied gesso finished in gold leaf. Examining the corner joins and the backboards reveals the age of the woodwork supporting the artwork.

Where were these portraits originally displayed?

These works hung in the panelled galleries, drawing rooms, and staircases of country houses and town mansions. They served to project lineage, political allegiance, and social standing to visitors and family members.