Girl Holding a Baby, 1945
Kenneth Hayes Miller (American, 1876-1952)
Oil on panel
Museum purchase, Morris B. Belknap, Jr. Bequest Fund  1953.23  

How much will it cost?  $3,700 

ADOPT NOW!

While the painting itself is in good condition structurally, there is extensive, slow work that needs to be done on the paint surface. An old repair in the girl’s hair has become visually disfiguring, and areas of overpainting are now revealing themselves with age.  

The entire surface of the painting is sensitive; the painting was originally unvarnished, as the artist intended it. In 1997, a layer of varnish was applied that has now taken on a gritty, granular quality, and this layer needs to be removed to regain the subtlety of the original, unvarnished surface. The paint surface is sensitive; the conservator will apply a layer of protective tissue to the painting, and varnish removal will proceed through the tissue layer to protect the paint. This type of work is slow-going, as you can imagine, but the result is worth it, and treatment is essential. Finally, the painting will be professionally installed in its frame, ensuring the wood panel is snugged against strips of felt to discourage rubbing or abrasion against the frame.  

Photographing a painting in raking light, where the light is scattered across the surface at an angle, can help us see additional problem areas to address with treatment in the laboratory.  

As a wonderful example of midcentury American painting, we want to install this lovely work in the galleries as soon as we can. We hope you can help us make it happen!