Figure of a Roman Wearing a Tunic. Academic Study.

Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida
Valencia, 1863 - Cercedilla, Madrid, 1923
Date: 1885
Dimensions: 40.50 x 24 cm
Materials: Oil on canvas
The work showed an aged appearance due to the oxidation of the varnish, which was also found in some areas to be yellowed, concealing the beautiful and contrasting tonalities of the piece. For this reason, the layer of varnish was removed, as were some overpaintings that had been added during an earlier restoration. After this cleaning, the piece was varnished evenly, separating the original painting from the pictorial reintegration that was then carried out in the areas with losses, using innocuous materials and the tratteggio technique, following the current criteria of discernibility and reversibility in the intervention. In addition to helping to restore the original tonalities, the restoration has allowed for a better understanding of the scene, revealing the nature of the elements in the background. It has also marked a step forward in the understanding of Sorolla’s creative process at this stage of his youth, highlighting patient, meticulous and highly detailed brushstrokes.