PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE COMPLETE MURALS PRIOR TO RESTORATION

In December of 2017 I was commissioned to restore the nineteenth century landscape murals on the walls of the dining room at The Women's Club of White Plains. There were seven panels to be restored in addition to the six panels over the entrance doors and window. The murals could be called  arcadian in design otherwise described as idealized. I believe there had been an attempt to make reference to the Hudson Highlands with the addition of European character buildings and figures; a hybrid was achieved. There was extensive damage to two of the panels which will be evident in the following images. At some point in the past there had been some extensive retouching, mostly in the sky area of each panel. In the process leaf groupings of the trees and the horizon had been compromised.
The beginning of the restoration began with the removal of all blistered and loose paint. On the fireplace wall loose canvas had to be removed .The loose areas were then re-attached with hide-glue.
When all the in-fill had been completed and lightly sanded all walls were sealed with an archival varnish, in preparation for the extensive in-painting.

DETAILS OF DAMAGE TO MURALS PRIOR TO RESTORATION

RESTORATION IN PROGRESS. ALL LOOSE PAINT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND FILLED WITH A VINYL COMPOUND.

BEFORE AND AFTER RESTORATION OF THE MAIN PANELS

The Woman’s Club of White Plains has our clubhouse in a 1911 mansion, that is on the National Historic Registry  Our dining room has a nineteenth century European mural that covers its walls, and it was in dire need of restoration. We were very fortunate to be referred to Michael Thornton Smith , by a mutual friend and fellow artist. Michael did a professional job in restoring the mural by filling in areas that were missing, stopping the flaking that was prevalent, and even adding an entire section above the window, which had since been destroyed. The membership was in agreement that the finished restoration was beautiful and seamless. We could not have been more satisfied with the results. 

Susan Doherty, WCWP President