The cleaning of a painting
the workshop of Dirck Bouts originally
functioned as the left wing of
a diptych. It was cleaned in 1996.
A painting can get dirty over time, as the protective transparent varnish layer yellows and surface grime and dust accumulate. When our perception is too severely impaired, conservators and curators may decide to clean a painting. Surface cleaning is relatively simple, but the removal of a varnish is an invasive process that should be performed as infrequently as possible and with great care.
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