Paintings Conservation | English Heritage
Source: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/conservation/paintings-conservation
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:27
Paintings Conservation | English Heritage
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Conservation
Paintings Conservation
English Heritage is responsible for the care and conservation of 1,300 paintings and their frames as well as 15 in situ painted decorative schemes on wood, paper or canvas.
Most are located in our London properties and include key moments in western art history, such as
The Waterseller of Seville
by Velázquez at Apsley House, and Rembrandt’s late
Self Portrait
and Vermeer’s
Guitar Player
at Kenwood.
Explore some of our paintings conservation stories here, and learn about some of the amazing discoveries we have uncovered thanks to our experts’ work.
Behind the Scenes
Delve behind the scenes and discover how our conservators maintain and protect our fine art collection both on site and in the studio. Hear about the important considerations that must be made before any conservation is started, and see the skill, passion and dedication that goes into this work.
Conservation Stories
Explore some of the works that have been conserved in recent years and see some of the amazing transformations and new discoveries we have uncovered using the latest techniques and technology.
Conserving a Dutch Master
Step inside our conservation studio and take a closer look at the conservation of the 17th-century Dutch master Jan Steen’s painting,
The Wedding Party
– part of the Wellington Collection at
Apsley House
, London.
Over several months we followed our painting conservator, Alice Tate-Harte as she has been examining, cleaning and restoring this painting, learning more about the artist’s technique, some of the hidden workings underneath the surface, and restoring some of its original beauty.
The Vegetable Seller
With new conservation work, technical analysis and research, we have been able to uncover some of the secrets of this mysterious painting which had been languishing in the back of a store room at Audley End for over 40 years.
Reynolds
English Heritage cares for many paintings by Joshua Reynolds, one of the most celebrated artists in the history of British art. Find out more about some of the unique challenges our conservators faced when conserving two Reynolds paintings from Kenwood.
Titian’s Orpheus
In Ancient Greek mythology, Orpheus was a musician so talented that his music could enchant all living things. In this short video, learn more about the Orpheus myth and go behind the scenes during the conservation of Titian’s
Orpheus Enchanting the Animals
from the Wellington Collection at
Apsley House
.
Botticelli at Ranger’s House
In 2019, two years of careful research and conservation by English Heritage experts came to fruition when a painting formerly believed to be by a copyist of Botticelli was revealed to have come from the studio of the man himself.
Huysmans at Wrest Park
In 2018, a 17th-century painting by Jacob Huysmans (c.1633–96) was returned to its ancestral home,
Wrest Park
in Bedfordshire, after almost 300 hours of conservation. The work revealed the bright and vivid colours for which Huysmans was famous for.
Courtauld Students at Audley
The conservation studio at English Heritage has collaborated with the Courtauld Institute of Art in London for many years, supplying paintings from historic house collections for their students to work on. We recently welcomed five students to help conserve a selection of 17th- and 18th-century portrait paintings from the collection at Audley End House.
The selection of paintings were in varying condition. Their conservation history meant each painting posed a unique challenge for the students. Read more about these challenges, the paintings and their conservation.
Image Courtesy of The Courtauld, Department of Conservation
Read more
Explore more
Explore more of our paintings conservation work through the images below (click on the images to expand for more detail).
Conservators view Vermeer’s ‘Guitar Player’ by candlelight
Vermeer’s ‘Guitar Player’ is part of the collection at Kenwood, in London. With the painting removed from its frame and glass while a new lighting system was being installed, conservators took the opportunity to view the work by candlelight, as the artist would have done, revealing some of the hidden details of Vermeer’s techniques.
Light cleaning on a large oil painting from the collection at Marble Hill, London
Rachel Turnbull, Senior Collections Conservator, performs light cleaning on a large oil painting of King Charles I and his son, the future King Charles II, from the collection at Marble Hill, London, during ongoing restoration work.
Close-up of the cleaning of a large oil painting from the collection at Marble Hill, London
Close-up of the cleaning of a large oil painting of King Charles I and his son, the future King Charles II, at Marble Hill, London.
Conservation on the wall paintings inside the Little Castle at Bolsover, Derbyshire
Dating back to the late Renaissance, the Little Castle at Bolsover, Derbyshire, is filled with significant wall paintings. Many are at risk of serious deterioration due to factors such as climate or poor past restoration work. Conservation was carried out to stabilise loose plaster in the Heaven Room as well as clean old drip marks from the surface.
Courtauld Institute of Art students conduct a high-tech examination of the wall paintings at Longthorpe Tower, Cambridgeshire
In 2019, a project by English Heritage in partnership with the Courtauld Institute of Art saw students conduct a high-tech examination of the wall paintings at Longthorpe Tower, Cambridgeshire. They also completed much needed conservation treatments to stabilise the flaking plaster and minimise the appearance of old restorations.
Smoke drawings from the ceiling of Berwick-Upon-Tweed Barracks, Northumberland, created by soldiers in the 18th century
Created by soldiers in the 18th century, the smoke drawings on the ceiling of Berwick-Upon-Tweed Barracks, Northumberland, offer a fascinating insight into the everyday lives of the men living in the barracks. Discovered during conservation work in the 1970s and 80s, some of the smoke drawings have recently been cleaned and stored in purpose-made boxes to allow for more research into the stories behind the pictures in the future.
Conservation work on the chancel ceiling paintings at St Mary’s Church, Kempley in 2021
Conservation work on the chancel ceiling paintings at St Mary’s Church, Kempley in 2021.
X-radiography of a portrait of Henry, Prince of Wales (1594–1612) from the collection at Audley End House, Essex
X-radiography was carried out on a portrait of Henry, Prince of Wales (1594–1612) from the collection at Audley End House, Essex. The technology revealed that underneath the prince lies an earlier portrait, upside down and possibly of Lucy Harrington, a 17th-century courtier and patron of the arts. It’s believed that the panel was first painted with the female sitter in 1606 and quickly over-painted, possibly because the first commission was unsuccessful. (X-ray Image: © National Portrait Gallery, London)
X-ray of ‘Titian’s Mistress’ – a painting in the collection at Apsley House, London
During the conservation of ‘Titian’s Mistress’ – a painting in the collection at Apsley House, London – the work was x-rayed at the Hamilton Kerr Institute. This revealed a different painting underneath depicting a seated semi-nude woman raising one hand to pluck a veil in her hair, and an indistinct second face on the right.
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Visit
Menu • Visit
Places To Visit
Visit • Places To Visit
PLACES TO VISIT
Stonehenge
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield
Dover Castle
Overseas visitors pass
Group visits
Find a place to visit
What's On
Visit • What's On
WHAT'S ON
Family events
Members' events
Events near you
May Half Term
Family Days out
Visit • Family Days out
FAMILY DAYS OUT
Top 10 family days out
Family property guides
Rainy days out
Inspire Me
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1066 and the Norman Conquest
Podcast
Travel guides
Dog friendly places
Historic Gardens
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BLUE PLAQUES
About the scheme
Find a blue plaque
Propose a blue plaque
Support the scheme
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Wedding venues
Corporate venues
Filming locations
Holiday Cottages
Visit • Holiday Cottages
HOLIDAY COTTAGES
Find a holiday cottage
Cottages by the sea
Late availability
About us
Menu • About us
About Us
About us • About Us
ABOUT US
Our people
Our policies and reports
Annual reports
Contact Us
About us • Contact Us
CONTACT US
General enquiries
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About us • Careers with us
CAREERS WITH US
Search jobs
Our benefits
Modern slavery statement
News
About us • News
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Donate now
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Support us • Volunteer
VOLUNTEER
Find a volunteer opportunity
Meet our volunteers
Why volunteer?
Volunteer focus magazine
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Support us • Partnership and sponsorship
PARTNERSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP
Corporate partnerships
Marketing partnerships
Licensing
Learn
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Learn
Learn • Learn
LEARN
1066 and the Norman Conquest
School visits
Teaching resources
Histories
Learn • Histories
HISTORIES
History of Stonehenge
History of Hadrian's Wall
Women in history
LGBTQ history
Find more...
Conservation
Learn • Conservation
CONSERVATION
Caring for our collections
Collections advice & guidance
Gardens & landscapes
Paintings conservation
Clothes moth research
Story of England
Learn • Story of England
STORY OF ENGLAND
Prehistory
Romans
Tudors
Victorians
Find more...
Shop
Join
Members' Area
Menu • Members' Area
Members' Area
LOGIN TO MEMBERS' AREA
Please login or register for the Members' area. The new Members' area allows you view details of your membership and your payments as well as requesting amendments.
Conservation
Paintings Conservation
English Heritage is responsible for the care and conservation of 1,300 paintings and their frames as well as 15 in situ painted decorative schemes on wood, paper or canvas.
Most are located in our London properties and include key moments in western art history, such as
The Waterseller of Seville
by Velázquez at Apsley House, and Rembrandt’s late
Self Portrait
and Vermeer’s
Guitar Player
at Kenwood.
Explore some of our paintings conservation stories here, and learn about some of the amazing discoveries we have uncovered thanks to our experts’ work.
Behind the Scenes
Delve behind the scenes and discover how our conservators maintain and protect our fine art collection both on site and in the studio. Hear about the important considerations that must be made before any conservation is started, and see the skill, passion and dedication that goes into this work.
Conservation Stories
Explore some of the works that have been conserved in recent years and see some of the amazing transformations and new discoveries we have uncovered using the latest techniques and technology.
Conserving a Dutch Master
Step inside our conservation studio and take a closer look at the conservation of the 17th-century Dutch master Jan Steen’s painting,
The Wedding Party
– part of the Wellington Collection at
Apsley House
, London.
Over several months we followed our painting conservator, Alice Tate-Harte as she has been examining, cleaning and restoring this painting, learning more about the artist’s technique, some of the hidden workings underneath the surface, and restoring some of its original beauty.
The Vegetable Seller
With new conservation work, technical analysis and research, we have been able to uncover some of the secrets of this mysterious painting which had been languishing in the back of a store room at Audley End for over 40 years.
Reynolds
English Heritage cares for many paintings by Joshua Reynolds, one of the most celebrated artists in the history of British art. Find out more about some of the unique challenges our conservators faced when conserving two Reynolds paintings from Kenwood.
Titian’s Orpheus
In Ancient Greek mythology, Orpheus was a musician so talented that his music could enchant all living things. In this short video, learn more about the Orpheus myth and go behind the scenes during the conservation of Titian’s
Orpheus Enchanting the Animals
from the Wellington Collection at
Apsley House
.
Botticelli at Ranger’s House
In 2019, two years of careful research and conservation by English Heritage experts came to fruition when a painting formerly believed to be by a copyist of Botticelli was revealed to have come from the studio of the man himself.
Huysmans at Wrest Park
In 2018, a 17th-century painting by Jacob Huysmans (c.1633–96) was returned to its ancestral home,
Wrest Park
in Bedfordshire, after almost 300 hours of conservation. The work revealed the bright and vivid colours for which Huysmans was famous for.
Courtauld Students at Audley
The conservation studio at English Heritage has collaborated with the Courtauld Institute of Art in London for many years, supplying paintings from historic house collections for their students to work on. We recently welcomed five students to help conserve a selection of 17th- and 18th-century portrait paintings from the collection at Audley End House.
The selection of paintings were in varying condition. Their conservation history meant each painting posed a unique challenge for the students. Read more about these challenges, the paintings and their conservation.
Image Courtesy of The Courtauld, Department of Conservation
Read more
Explore more
Explore more of our paintings conservation work through the images below (click on the images to expand for more detail).
Conservators view Vermeer’s ‘Guitar Player’ by candlelight
Vermeer’s ‘Guitar Player’ is part of the collection at Kenwood, in London. With the painting removed from its frame and glass while a new lighting system was being installed, conservators took the opportunity to view the work by candlelight, as the artist would have done, revealing some of the hidden details of Vermeer’s techniques.
Light cleaning on a large oil painting from the collection at Marble Hill, London
Rachel Turnbull, Senior Collections Conservator, performs light cleaning on a large oil painting of King Charles I and his son, the future King Charles II, from the collection at Marble Hill, London, during ongoing restoration work.
Close-up of the cleaning of a large oil painting from the collection at Marble Hill, London
Close-up of the cleaning of a large oil painting of King Charles I and his son, the future King Charles II, at Marble Hill, London.
Conservation on the wall paintings inside the Little Castle at Bolsover, Derbyshire
Dating back to the late Renaissance, the Little Castle at Bolsover, Derbyshire, is filled with significant wall paintings. Many are at risk of serious deterioration due to factors such as climate or poor past restoration work. Conservation was carried out to stabilise loose plaster in the Heaven Room as well as clean old drip marks from the surface.
Courtauld Institute of Art students conduct a high-tech examination of the wall paintings at Longthorpe Tower, Cambridgeshire
In 2019, a project by English Heritage in partnership with the Courtauld Institute of Art saw students conduct a high-tech examination of the wall paintings at Longthorpe Tower, Cambridgeshire. They also completed much needed conservation treatments to stabilise the flaking plaster and minimise the appearance of old restorations.
Smoke drawings from the ceiling of Berwick-Upon-Tweed Barracks, Northumberland, created by soldiers in the 18th century
Created by soldiers in the 18th century, the smoke drawings on the ceiling of Berwick-Upon-Tweed Barracks, Northumberland, offer a fascinating insight into the everyday lives of the men living in the barracks. Discovered during conservation work in the 1970s and 80s, some of the smoke drawings have recently been cleaned and stored in purpose-made boxes to allow for more research into the stories behind the pictures in the future.
Conservation work on the chancel ceiling paintings at St Mary’s Church, Kempley in 2021
Conservation work on the chancel ceiling paintings at St Mary’s Church, Kempley in 2021.
X-radiography of a portrait of Henry, Prince of Wales (1594–1612) from the collection at Audley End House, Essex
X-radiography was carried out on a portrait of Henry, Prince of Wales (1594–1612) from the collection at Audley End House, Essex. The technology revealed that underneath the prince lies an earlier portrait, upside down and possibly of Lucy Harrington, a 17th-century courtier and patron of the arts. It’s believed that the panel was first painted with the female sitter in 1606 and quickly over-painted, possibly because the first commission was unsuccessful. (X-ray Image: © National Portrait Gallery, London)
X-ray of ‘Titian’s Mistress’ – a painting in the collection at Apsley House, London
During the conservation of ‘Titian’s Mistress’ – a painting in the collection at Apsley House, London – the work was x-rayed at the Hamilton Kerr Institute. This revealed a different painting underneath depicting a seated semi-nude woman raising one hand to pluck a veil in her hair, and an indistinct second face on the right.
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