Portrait of a Man (Self-Portrait?), 1641
Hendrick Martenszoon Sorgh (Dutch, 1611-1670)
Oil on panel
Bequest of Mrs. Blakemore Wheeler  1964.31.31  

How much will it cost?  $3,700 

ADOPT NOW!

This smart little portrait will make a wonderful addition to the seventeenth-century Dutch galleries once it is properly treated. A very thick, glossy, patchy, and discolored varnish coats the surface of the painting, and it needs to come off as soon as possible. Upon initial inspection, there appear to be no signs of heavy restoration over the centuries, which is particularly good news for both curator and conservator. As you can see in the detailed photograph of the recent cleaning test, the resulting appearance will be much closer to the artist’s original intent.  

Detail of cleaning test; notice how bright the white of the cuff will be after cleaning, and the flesh tones will be much more natural in appearance. The aged varnish makes the man’s skin appear too orange.