Deposition from the Cross – a badly damaged painting

This is a copy made in 1565 of a painting by Daniele da Volterra, originally painted around 1541. It is a very famous portrayal of Christ descending from the cross, and was itself based on a drawing by Michaelangelo. It measures 57 inches by 85 inches. The frame is Victorian or perhaps even later.

Before it was sent for restoration it had been hanging in a church in Scotland where excessive damp and a leaking roof had caused untold damage over many unrecorded years.

Six stages in the process:

Inspection, making a plan

Removing the carpet tacks

The re-lining process

The cleaning process

The retouching process and final varnishing

The final state of the painting