Delicate and professional work
The portrait of ‘Doña Teresa Miró’ by Lorenzo Casanova Ruiz is one of the jewels of the Art Collection of the Alcoi City Council. This work, created by the painter from Alcoy in the 19th century, needed restoration work to recover its original beauty.
The person in charge of carrying out this task was the Graduate in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets, Ángela Molina Vañó, who had the support and advice of the Councilor for Cultural Heritage, Ignacio Trelis, and the director of the Camilo Visedo Moltó Archaeological Museum, Palmira Torregrosa. Molina worked as an intern at this museum.
The restoration process
To restore the portrait of ‘Doña Teresa Miró’, Molina carried out an organoleptic study of the work, using visible photographic techniques and supporting optical instruments. Thus, he was able to verify that the state of conservation of the work was quite good, without aesthetic or structural damage. However, there was a problem: a yellowish layer covered the entire surface, altering the aesthetic appearance and original colorimetry of the work.
The main objective of the restoration was to remove the non-original varnish and the intermediate layer of dirt to restore the original colorimetry. To do this, Molina used specific chemical products and careful cleaning techniques, respecting the original work as much as possible.
The final result
After the restoration, the portrait of ‘Doña Teresa Miró’ by Lorenzo Casanova shines in all its splendor. The colors are more vivid and harmonious, and the details of the sitter’s face and dress are better appreciated. The work has recovered its artistic and historical value, and can be admired in the Camilo Visedo Moltó Archaeological Museum.
The Councilor for Cultural Heritage, Ignacio Trelis, highlights that: “From the Department of Cultural Heritage, we work to preserve our legacy. Each piece is unique, irreplaceable, and restoration and conservation are our weapons to prevent the disappearance of this cultural heritage. Recovering and preserving these works is one of the fundamental tasks of this department with the purpose of making our society aware of the wonderful artistic heritage that Alcoi possesses.”
