Structural
Tear Repair & Structural Treatment
A torn canvas looks like a catastrophe. It rarely is — if it is treated properly and promptly.
Structural conservation addresses the painting’s support system — the combination of materials an artist uses to provide a structure for the paint: canvas on a stretcher or strainer, a wood panel, or a less conventional construction. Treatment covers tears and punctures, flaking or cupping paint, dents and distortions, weakened or degraded supports, and problems inherited from earlier interventions.
Tear repair and mending
For many tears, the most appropriate repair is also the most tedious: rejoining the torn canvas threads themselves, one by one, under magnification. When this treatment is performed correctly, the repair is nearly invisible from the front and preserves the original canvas rather than covering it. Not every tear calls for thread-by-thread reweaving — the method is chosen for the damage, and a simpler mend is sometimes the better answer.
Consolidation
When a paint layer loses its bond with the ground and support beneath it, damage can take many forms: paint can flake, lift, tent, and cup. Consolidation reintroduces an appropriate adhesive and settles the paint, stabilizing the work before any cosmetic treatment is considered.
Old linings
Some paintings arrive with old glue or wax linings that have degraded and begun to fail. These can be difficult to remove and complicate proper repair. Where appropriate, we treat or reverse earlier linings and address the original canvas directly. Modern practice is conservative: we line only when the painting’s condition genuinely requires it.
My canvas is torn. Should I tape it?
No — no tape, on either side. Adhesives from household tape can be difficult to remove and complicate proper repair. Keep the painting flat if the tear is unstable, avoid handling the torn area, and call us.
Can a large or complex tear really be repaired?
Almost always. Even complex tears with paint loss can be rejoined, stabilized, and compensated so the damage no longer draws the eye. The sooner a tear is treated, the better the result — torn edges distort over time.
The paint on my painting is flaking. Is that urgent?
Yes — flaking is one condition we treat as time-sensitive. Paint that falls away is only lost forever if the pieces are gone, so gather any flakes you can find and keep them safe. Stop moving the painting, keep it away from temperature and humidity swings, and contact us promptly.
Torn, dented, or flaking? Photograph it where it is, don’t tape anything, and get in touch.
Request an Assessment