Art restoration in Cardiff often brings unexpected discoveries into our studio in Cathays. Some artworks arrive with clear stories, while others reveal something completely new the moment we begin work. This late 19th century tavern scene seemed straightforward at first, but as soon as we removed it from its frame, the client and I realised there was another painting hidden on the back.

What began as a single restoration suddenly turned into a fascinating double discovery. The client was genuinely surprised, and watching their reaction reminded me why these moments are so rewarding.

The documentation showed that both the tavern scene and the hidden landscape were created sometime between 1850 and 1920.

The tavern scene followed a revivalist Baroque style, while the village landscape reflected a Romantic Realist approach often seen in late 19th century Germany.

In addition, the landscape on the back showed architectural details found in the Hesse region, including half timbered houses and a distinctive church tower. These features strongly match the village of Günterod.

Although the artist remains unidentified, a signature on the back appears to read F. Eilert or a small variation of that name.

Before any conservation begins, we document everything. In this case, we photographed the front, the back and all structural weaknesses.

Because two paintings were involved, the documentation process was especially important.

The tavern scene showed smoke staining, surface dirt and heavy varnish discolouration. Meanwhile, the landscape on the back had cracked edges and distortions from the old frame.

I carried out emulsion tests, solvent tests and heat tests to understand how sensitive each paint layer was.

 As a result, we could choose appropriate cleaning methods with confidence.

The first hands on treatment involved removing dust from the back of the canvas and lightly wiping the surface. Then I used an emulsion cleaner to dissolve household dirt, tobacco smoke and even coal smoke trapped in the varnish.

As the surface brightened, the figures in the tavern scene appeared clearer and more expressive. In addition, details that had been almost invisible under the dirt now showed warm tones and sharper lines.

The original varnish had yellowed significantly, so I carefully removed it using a controlled mixture of solvents.

This stage often feels transformative, because the old varnish hides the true colours. Once removed, the scene gained contrast and depth again.

Because the canvas edges were too weak to re stretch, the entire artwork required relining. I attached a new canvas using Beva 371 film adhesive and medium fine Belgian linen.

This strengthening process supported both paintings, ensuring they can survive for many decades ahead. Throughout the relining, I followed the same careful methods I use for all art restoration in Cardiff and South Wales.

Once the surface was secure, I applied an initial coat of Lefranc Bourgeois anti UV varnish to protect the cleaned paint layers.

After the varnish dried, I used dry pigments mixed with varnish medium to retouch small areas where paint loss or fading had occurred. This brought cohesion back to the artwork, and a second coat of varnish unified both paintings.

With the restoration complete, I reframed the artwork using conservation grade materials.

This ensured that the tavern scene and the hidden landscape behind it remained protected from tension, humidity changes and dust.

When we placed the freshly restored painting upright again, the tavern scene looked warm, detailed and full of character. The hidden landscape on the back, once dark and almost forgotten, now looked atmospheric and beautifully painted.

The client was delighted. Discovering a second artwork was completely unexpected, and seeing both paintings restored felt like uncovering a forgotten chapter of family history. For this reason, the project became much more than a standard restoration. It became a rediscovery

This project demonstrates how art restoration in Cardiff can reveal more than just surface details. Sometimes it reveals entire stories hidden beneath a frame or on the back of a canvas.

If you have a painting that needs cleaning, stabilisation or full conservation, you can explore our services here:
https://cgnf.co.uk/art-restoration-cardiff/

We restore paintings for clients across Cardiff and South Wales and are always happy to provide a condition assessment.