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Scraping, Scraping, Scraping. Or a Slow Descent Into Madness
🕑 Added 2020-10-08 22:59:38 +0000 UTCSometimes a project comes along that is desperate for intervention but presents a unique set of problems and a very narrow path to success. These projects are without a doubt the most frustrating, difficult and rewarding. This small oil on canvas by Mathias J. Alten had seen better days. Glued onto plywood and coated with a very thick and yellowed surface layer the delicate brushwork and true colors were totally obscured. What appeared to be a painting in desperate need of cleaning turned out to be a bit more involved than first glance would reveal.
Mathias Joseph Alten worked as an artist between 1890 and 1938. Although best known for his land- and seascapes he was also an accomplished portrait, floral, and animal painter. Alten studied at the acclaimed Académie Julian and at the Académie Colarossi where he won a gold medal for the best figure drawing. As early in his career as 1905, Alten was being invited to show his paintings in museum exhibits. During his lifetime, his work was exhibited at the National Academy in New York, The Chicago Institute of Art, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Detroit Institute of Art and other smaller venues.
Comments
Still my favourite video. I always come back to it.
I would be so happy to have to scrape a whole painting…I‘d love to see if I‘m good at it.
