Francis Marion Pebbles, Portrait of Margaret Crocker, 1880s. Oil on canvas.

Though the darkening of the image was the most obvious issue, this portrait of the Crocker's founder also suffered from brittle canvas and other structural problems that threatened to compromise the painting further.

Surface cleaning has brought the portrait back to life. This months-long procedure has given us access to a wealth of visual detail, notably in the fabric of the chair, the framed portrait and the fan resting on the table. But it is the work behind the scenes that has ensured that the painting will remain stable. The brittle canvas has been consolidated and applied to a new framework, while the surface has been given a new varnish.