Wash with a sponge or a soft leather and water, and dry by rubbing with a silk handkerchief. When the picture is very dirty, take it out of its frame, procure a clean towel, and making it quite wet, lay it on the face of the picture, sprinkling it from time to time with clear soft water; let it remain wet for two or three days; take the cloth off and renew it with a fresh one; after wiping the picture with a clean wet sponge,repeat the process till all the dirt is soaked out; then wash it well with a soft sponge, and let it quite dry; rub it with some clear nut or linseed oil. Spirits of wine and turpentine may be used to dissolve the hard old varnish, but they will attack the paint as well as the varnish if the further action of the spirits is not stopped at the proper time by using water freely.

Cleaning Varnished Pictures

There are conditions where the above simple process will not accomplish what is required; where a thick coating of varnish has been applied to the picture, and it has been hung in a smoky room, and dust and dirt has been allowed to gather and remain; then it is that no high lights will be visible, the sky will be dirty, no distance visible, and perhaps the figures in the foreground very indistinct. Under these conditions the varnish must be cither removed or the smoke and dirt must be brought out of the varnish. If it is thought desirable to try the latter, the following receipt will be found valuable for the purpose: 2 oz. wood naptha; 1 oz. spirits of salts; ¼ pint of linseed oil.

Mix the above well together, and before using shake the bottle. It can be used as follows: Get some soft linen rag, and make up a soft pad, which place on the mouth of the bettle and shake up some of the mixture into the pad, when commence rubbing the picture with a circular motion, and when nearly dry again give the pad another dressing of mixture, and continue this mode of procedure for some time, when the picture will gradually come out in all its detail.

How To Smooth A Damaged Picture

Paintings sometimes get convex and concave patches on their surface, owing to pressure on one side or the other, and these inequalities cause a great deal of trouble to bring out. The most successful way is to well wet both sides of the picture on the spot, and keep it under pressure till dry. With small pictures the quickest way would be to take them oft" the stretcher and lav them in a press, with a light pressure between soft sheets of paper.