Overpaints and inpainting on the “Black flag” by Ljubo Babić

  • Maja Sucevic Miklin Conservator-restorer
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v18i1.848
Keywords: Overpaint, gouache, Canada balsam, mimetic inpainting, Ljubo Babić, flag

Abstract

This paper will present the restoration carried out at the end of 2017 on an oil painting called the “Black flag”, by Ljubo Babić, that stands today as one of the five more important paintings in Croatian modern art history. The focus will be on previous interventions – retouches and overpaintings – that were found on such an important painting, as well as the complex process of inpainting.

After a partial removal of the previous interventions, some particles of dirt were still left embedded in the texture. This condition and the artist's paint effects determined the inpainting process. A mimetic inpainting method was chosen, consisting into a two stages process, intermediated with a varnish application: gouache colours to reconstruct the image and pigments mixed with Canada balsam to finish the process. This method resulted in a good reintegration of the retouch and in the overall appearance of the painting.

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Author Biography

Maja Sucevic Miklin, Conservator-restorer

Since 2012 she has been working as external associate in the Croatian Conservation Institute (Department for Polychrome Wooden Sculpture and Department for Easel Painting) and as external associate at Department of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art in Zagreb. She specialized in paintings on different supports and polychrome wooden sculpture.
She is very active as a secretary of the Croatian Conservation-Restoration Association and E.C.C.O. delegate.

References

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Published
2020-12-10
How to Cite
Sucevic Miklin, M. (2020). Overpaints and inpainting on the “Black flag” by Ljubo Babić. Ge-Conservacion, 18, 291-297. https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v18i1.848
Issue
Vol. 18 (2020): Ge-conservación Nº18
Section
Suplemento
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