Support the conservation work of John Donne

We urgently need your help to carry out restoration of the portrait of John Donne. This Tudor treasure is in need of specialist conservation work in order to stabilise the paint surface and help reveal its original appearance.

The cleaning and conservation of the John Donne portrait will be expensive and time consuming. Expert advice indicates that the required work will reveal the original appearance and true subtleties of this important painting.

The painting is currently covered in an old opaque varnish and has areas of retouching and additions as seen in the photograph taken in ultra violet light (image 1)

Image 1

Image 2

There are several significant areas of loss and damage as seen by the photograph taken in raking light (image 2) and in the detail of individual losses (image 3). One of the eyes has suffered damage in the past and been only partially restored (image 4).

Image 3

Image 4

The conservation work will include varnish removal, careful investigation and removal of old restoration and non original paint, re-jointing of the panel to realign the misjoined wooden boards, and final retouching of damaged areas. Particular areas of the portrait that will be enhanced by this process are the sitter’s left arm and details of the face and costume. This work will be closely supervised by our 16th Century Curator, Dr Tarnya Cooper and the Gallery’s painting conservators.

We urgently need to raise £3,600 to begin the conservation of this important portrait.

Donate now

Total conservation costs are £21,080.To date we have raised £16,900 from the generous support of individuals, charitable trusts and foundations. Therefore we now need to raise a further £3,600. 

Donate over £1000 to have the exclusive opportunity to observe the conservation work with the Gallery’s Curators .

Donate over £500 to have the opportunity to attend a special event on completion of the conservation work. 

Thank you for your support of this historically important portrait.

Update on the conservation of the portrait of John Donne