The Spalding Gentlemen’s Society was founded in 1712. Hirst Conservation was commissioned to carry out treatments on a late 18^th century oil on panel painting that has been in the possession of the SGS for at least 200 years and is currently housed at the SGS Museum. The subject matter of the panel acts as a historic record of the existing local buildings, in their late 18^th century state. This is of particular interest for Ayscoughfee Hall that is featured on the right side of the painted scene, prior to the Victorian additions.

While the wooden support was in stable condition, a layer of discoloured varnish and nicotine-based surface coatings were significantly inhibiting the legibility of the artwork. The artwork had some previously undocumented interventions, which resulted in mismatched fills and retouchings that further distorted the original visual intent.

Hirst began conservation treatments at our fine art studio on the 3^rd of May 2022, which then concluded on the 17^th of June 2022. This included consolidation of flaking paint, surface cleaning of nicotine and carbon-based deposits, verso cleaning, varnish removal, removal of prior fills and retouching, application of an isolating varnish, followed by image re-integration involving applying new fills, retouching and a final varnish application.

Minor treatments were also carried out on the modern frame, to improve the appearance until a new appropriately sized frame can be introduced. Treatments to the modern frame involved surface cleaning and micro sanding, along with the removal of foam remnants from a prior sign that had been adhered to the bottom right corner of the painting, and removal of the paper label attached via cellulose tape.