Polly Saltmarsh is an accredited paintings conservator who facilitates the restoration of works in oil on canvas and panel from 16^th century up to the present day. Her private studio in Cambridge, Saltmarsh Paintings Conservation, has collaborated with many institutions, including the National Trust, Church of England and Kettle’s Yard, and has recently worked with the Guildhall in reviving one of the historic paintings housed there. The 17^th century portrait of Thomas Bright the Younger has survived many years and thanks to Polly and her conservation treatment will now survive many more.

“It is a real privilege to work so closely with paintings, you see every brushstroke and get an understanding of the process the artist
went through to create the piece.”

Before undertaking practical work on the portrait, Polly Saltmarsh examined its condition in thorough detail. She noted signs of deterioration in terms of both the structure and the paint itself, including a failed panel join, flaking and abraded paint, splitting panel edges and discoloured varnish. Her meticulous inspection of the work brought to light the long history of the painting’s materiality as old tool marks and repairs became visible. Polly even noticed that animal glue had once been used to attach large patches of canvas!

With the help of paintings conservator Ulla-Satu Grimmett, Polly began conservation treatment that aimed to ensure the stability and improve the appearance of the painting, without concealing its age. This involved finding a suitable solvent mixture to remove the thick and grainy veil of varnish that covered the portrait, cleaning and repairing the splits and joins in the panels and filling losses to the paint with putty made from mowiol and chalk.