Author: Helena Loermans

…looking forward to sharing Lab O’s research and reconstructions of historic canvases in a presentation, June 14th, for the Technical Art History Research Group at The Courtauld .

Thank you so much Adam Lowe @ Factum Foundation for your thoughts about my work! I am absolutely fan of your- and your team’s work <3

quote ” I am one of her fans- If there were more people carrying out the informed, in depth practical research into the material of works of art I am sure we would all have deeper understanding and more interesting thoughts as a result. I look at samples Helena has woven and feel that her work is of fundamental importance.”

…for the first time in Lab O’s history a paintings conservator will try to restore some holes in the patterned canvas of an historic painting with a reconstruction of the same pattern. Looking forward to hearing how that worked out and to sharing it with all of you.Fingers crossed, I love pioneers <3

Rigorous analyses allow us to confirm identical patterns as well as distinguish subtle differences….

I was asked to analyse a canvas of an historic painting (cannot give more details yet) and found that the weave draft in the warp and tie-up was the same as in the canvas of Titian’s Portrait of Isabella d’Este.

I have woven a reconstruction of both patterns on the same warp.

In the weft I had to skipp 2 x 4 passes….

I have uploaded a proposal for the upcoming ICOM CC conference in Valencia 2023 !

The focus will be on the analyses of seven canvases of El Greco paintings and one of Alonso Sánchez Coello. Each with their unique weave draft that allows us to confirm identical patterns as well as distinguish subtle differences.

Contribution Title: Identifying historic textile weave patterns in painting supports

Working Group: PaintingsType: PaperAuthor: Helena Loermans

Co-Authors:

Comment: Lab O is a laboratory for handwoven canvas. It’s mission is to recover and share the knowledge of historic canvases. www.labo.pt Helena Loermans

…in Rome, El Greco painted “Portrait of a Man” in 1570, on a canvas with a woven pattern Find here an overview of the different patterns from 1570 till 1610… different- and exactly the same patterns

Marion F. Mecklenburg, Senior Research Scientist at the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute wrote this recommendation on the research and reconstructions at Lab O.

“When I first encountered Helena Loermans’ research on the reconstruction of historic canvases at Lab O I was somewhat taken aback. It was such an obvious method to merge the historic textile industry technology to the canvas supports used on paintings. Yet this connection is rarely discussed in the conservation community.  It encouraged me to reassess my understanding of historical weaving and recognize that artists had access to textiles having rather complex weave geometries. Further her actual recreation of the sophisticated textiles early painters used as painting supports clearly shows what would otherwise be difficult for the average viewer to see.”

Marion F. Mecklenburg, PhD

….the world is reaching out to Odemira !Requests for publishing about Lab O’s research and reconstructions of historic canvases came to Odemira from the Museum Conservation Institute; Smithsonian Institution and Princeton University.

Grateful that the Old Masters continue ‘knocking at the doorstep’ of a local workshop….

Stay tuned!

…thank you so much Marie Ekstedt Bjersing @ https://www.saterglantan.se/studera-och-bo-pa…/vav/ for accepting my request to confirm the analyses of the pattern of the canvas of Vélazquez “Education of the Virgin”

Looking forward to continue this work together!

…’green light’ for analysing more textile fragments in cooperation with the Textile Conservation Department of the Metropolitan Museum.Weave drafts will be generated from high resolution- and micro photographs of these textiles to compare with patterns in historic canvases.

Stay tuned!