Step into the Furniture Conservation Studio as Senior Conservator Kevin carefully and mindfully removes the frame from an original portrait of the controversial Queen of France, Marie Antoinette.
Dated 1773, the oil painting by court painter François Hubert Drouais depicts the last queen of France at age 17 – before the French Revolution and her almighty downfall and execution just 20 years later. Painted in Versailles, in Paris, France, the portrait shows the princess in a lavish necklace and court dress, adorned with sumptuous jewels.
Watch as Philip removes the painting's frame in order to send the portrait to the Science Conservation team for analysis. From examining the condition of the frame to gently prising it open, follow each step as we reveal the striking portrait.
- 00:00 How to unframe an old painting
- 00:57 Modified frame
- 01:27 Historic label
- 01:37 ASMR: removing brown gummed tape
- 04:01 ASMR: Peeling & slicing gummed tape with thin knife (no talking)
- 04:19 ASMR: Selecting tools and unscrewing screws (no talking)
- 04:56 Slotted vs Phillips screws
- 06:09 Slicing and peeling
- 06:27 ASMR: Prising the backboard up (no talking)
- 07:09 How to stop a painting offgassing
- 07:49 Stretcher, original stamp, fastenings
- 09:32 Removing foam padding
- 10:13 Revealing the portrait
- 10:55 ASMR: Safely storing the painting
- 11:10 Examining the frame
- 11:24 ASMR: Transporting the portrait for analysis
