Voces del Prado

1994. The Holy Familiy by Sebastiano del Piombo, from the Cathedral of Burgos

José Manso Gómez, Textile and Panel Painting Conservator, 1953-1992

I don't know if you remember that we went to pick up a painting that was kept in the cathedral, how we took it out. On placing it on a bench, we saw that the paint was peeling off. I said, "This cannot be taken out like that in a car, a van or a truck, because the moment it starts moving it will all come off." The painting was all flaked up. We went and bought some gauze, paste and honey, and I'm not sure whether we used turpentine oil. I don't remember. It was a large board. We applied all the things we had bought, we calculated it, put it all on and ironed it with paper. First we ironed a bit until we saw it going down. We spent a good many hours there. In order for the colours to set well we couldn't overdo it with the iron, working slowly instead, to prevent it from drying and allowing it time to seep into the painting. We left late at night.