All images of this object © National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh
Johannes Bosboom
Interior of Alkmaar Church
Oil on panel, probably mahogany, 1863, 19 x 15 cm
National Galleries of Scotland
Johannes Bosboom trained in the Hague under Bartholomeus van Hove alongside Van Hove’s son, Hubertus. Bosboom became part of The Hague school, a group of artists working in this area between 1860 and 1890 and greatly influenced by the realist painters of the French Barbizon school.
before treatment
after treatment
The varnish layer on this small painting, Interior of Alkmaar Church, had become discoloured and degraded. This obscured the tone and saturation of the scene’s colours and contrasts. After carefully testing the possibility for safe removal of the old varnish layers, cleaning of the paint surface was carried out. Older residues of darkened varnish were also removed from the textured surface and paint impastos. The condition and treatment of the object were thoroughly documented, both in written and photographic form.
After the paint surface had been re-varnished and minimal retouching of small damages along the rebate edge had been carried out, the painting was conservation framed and prepared for display. The treatment helped restore the original colour scheme and contrast, bringing to light the balance of cool and warm colours and fine details of the painting.
