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Q: About two years ago I bought a drawing by Dudovich of the 1920s. The paper on which the work was realized and the drawing itself are now spoilt since the surface of the paper is corrugated. The gallery where I bought my work doesn’t exist anymore; what should I do to repair it?
A: This is quite a common problem. Paper, like other materials, gets altered by sudden changes in temperature. If the work is hung on a wall where sun frequently beats or if there’s a high rate of humidity, this problem becomes more marked and the work is more likely to deteriorate over the years.
In order to solve this problem, it is advisable to apply the drawing on a canvas. This work can be done by a restorer. The price depends on the size of the drawing (for example, for a 30x40, prices range from about 200 to 250 euro). But since Dudovich is an important artist, maybe this work is worth the price.
Q: I’m a private collector; I have some oil paintings, a few temperas and drawings. They are all framed and protected by glass. My wife and I have different viewpoints about this glass: she believes it should be removed, whereas I think it shouldn’t, in order not to ruin the painting. How can I solve this problem?
A: As regards oil paintings, you can certainly remove the glass, because the painting is always protected by the varnish. However, the painting usually gets dirty over time; it will be therefore necessary to clean it and re-apply the varnish. On the contrary, for it’s not advisable to remove the glass from tempera paintings and drawings. The reflection produced by the glass can be avoided using an anti-reflective glass. It’s an expensive, almost invisible American product that completely protects the work.
Q: One of my aunts left me about ten paintings, all of which were bought between the 1940s and 1960s. I live in a small town; I went to a local gallery to show the photos of my paintings. The art gallerist told me he didn’t know much about some of those painters’ work; as for the other paintings, he asked me about their authenticity. I told him I didn’t know if they were authentic; he replied that those works would not be sold easily. What should I do?
A: The question of authenticity was certainly less important in those years than today. Unfortunately, many works can’t be sold today unless they are authentic. Please send us the photos of your paintings with all the necessary details (artist’s name, size, technique, support), and we will give you some useful tips about the authentication of those works.
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