Following a preliminary condition appraisal in August 2018 and a further inspection and trials in August 2020, Hirst Conservation were commissioned to undertake conservation and restoration of the marouflaged canvas paintings to the decorative plaster ceiling of the Grade II* listed Drapers’ Livery Hall, Throgmorton Avenue, London.

The 13 canvases were painted by Herbert Draper between 1903 and 1910 and depict scenes from The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The paintings had been heavily restored in the early 1950s and were coated in a high gloss varnish which was visually disturbing and detracted from the fine quality of the paintings.

As part of the trials in 2020, different matting varnishes were tested to enhance the appearance of the paintings following surface cleaning.

Conservation works were carried out in early 2021 following a full condition assessment including full photographic and diagrammatic recording, material trials and stabilisation of delaminated canvases and paint consolidation.