Our home base in Chicago has many cultural jems, and The Conservation Center has recently had the privilege of working with one of them- the beautiful Shedd Aquarium. Working closely with us throughout the conservation process, the Shedd Aquarium sent us a work that does not depict one of their thousands of species of fish, as you might have guessed, but rather a portrait of their generous patron and founder, John Graves Shedd.
During Treatment
John G. Shedd was born in New Hampshire on July 20th, 1850. He spent his younger years learning about the business world hands-on at local dry goods stores, and then moved to the bustling city of Chicago when he was 22. In the city he started out as a salesman and stock boy at a store downtown that would later be known as Marshall Field and Company. Shedd worked his way up the ranks and eventually became president of the company after Mr. Field died in 1906. Near the end of his life, he decided to give back to the city that he loved and donated $3 million to build what would become Shedd Aquarium.
Before Treatment
For his 70th birthday, Shedd had his portrait painted by artist Louis Betts. Betts, who grew up in Arkansas but lived and studied art in Chicago, started out as a landscape painter. He made a living in the city first by becoming a commercial illustrator, and then turned to portraiture later in his career, for which he is known today.
During Treatment
The painting, when brought into The Center, exhibited problems stemming from uneven stretching and auxiliary support. The auxiliary support was missing 3 out of 10 keys, and the stretcher, which was uneven at the corners, caused corner draws in the lower right and left corners. Our conservators noted that the original framing had caused small gouges along the bottom and sides. They also observed sharp, mechanical cracking throughout the figure’s collar and body that were insecure, and that the painting surface was coated in a light layer of grime and particulate film.
After surface cleaning the painting, the reverse was cleaned using a soft brush and vacuum. The canvas was then removed from its stretcher so that our conservators could consolidate the flaking paint and align and mend the gouges, using conservation adhesive and bridging threads. The original canvas was then lined to a prepared canvas to offer structural support. The original canvas was re-stretched onto a new stretcher, and a final coat of varnish was applied to integrate the surface gloss.
During Treatment
During Treatment
During Treatment
During Treatment (in raking light)
The frame, composed of wood, gesso, and gold leaf, had open miters and minimal abrasions throughout. Along with two small areas of large gesso and gilding losses within on of the burnished coves and outside corner on the right, there were also minimal gesso and gilding losses throughout. The piece was originally framed with a non-UV filtering glaze and a non-archival acidic backing board.
During Treatment
During Treatment
After Treatment
During Treatment
Once our conservators stabilized the miters and consolidated the flaking gesso and gilding, they mechanically cleaned the frame and inpainted the abrasions to emulate the surrounding surface. The painting was then reinstalled to its original frame, and an acid-free coroplast backing was attached to the reversed to provide additional protection. The original glazing was replaced by UV Plexiglas, a conservation-grade acrylic glazing that protects against UV light rays.
After Treatment
The portrait was a gifted to the aquarium by Mr. A. Watson Armour III and his wife, granddaughter of John G. Shedd, in 1958 or 1959. It originally hung in the director’s office just off the main foyer. After renovations a decade ago, the office is now a guest suite and starting point for many special activities. Nevertheless, the portrait was reinstalled here, home again at last.
After Treatment
Special thanks to Karen Furnweger for sharing her knowledge on Shedd’s portrait.
Sources:
Furnweger, Karen. “Remembering John G. Shedd on his Birthday” https://www.sheddaquarium.org/blog/2010/July/Remembering-John-G-Shedd-on-his-birthday/
Morgante, Karen A. “Louis Betts, Portrait Painter of High Society: The Meadow Brook Hall Portraits of Alfred G. Wilson, Matilda R. Wilson, Danny and Frances Dodge, and John F. Dodge” https://www2.oakland.edu/oujournal/files/1_Morgante.pdf
