Restoration of Plaster Relief and Frame

This is a cast plaster bas-relief ca. 1900. Possibly a "Grand Tour" souvenir. Frame was in good condition, but overpainted with bronze paint, with a flat brown cove. The plaster was broken into several pieces.

 
The frame is in two sections. I removed the paint from the outer section and saw that the top band and some of the cast detail was water gilded originally. I was able to water gild over the original gesso.

 

The plaster was re-assembled and missing sections filled. The original finish was two-color, apparently applied with an airbrush. I elected to use a combination of paint techniques to create the appearance of terra-cotta. The inner cove was also treated to add a slight patina to the flat painted finish.

 
 

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