The old mounting silk surrounding this portrait of Lirongbao's wife is creased, torn, and dirty.

The colorful silks that are part of the backing, or "frame," for the portraits form an important part of the painting's history. When possible, conservators reuse old mounting silks that are in good condition and are appropriate to the painting in terms of color and age. In these cases, the silk mounting fabric is removed, cleaned, and remounted around the painting. Sometimes the silk is simply worn or damaged beyond repair, as was the case with the portrait of Lirongbao's wife. The old mounting silk was extremely soiled and stained. It is also torn and broken, and large pieces were missing. These silk fabrics had become so weak and brittle that they no longer support the painting safely. Even after cleaning, they could still have shown signs of wear, fading, and stains. The conservator and curator decided to remove the old mounting and replace it with new silk.

New silks are placed around the painting to help the conservator and curator select an appropriate combination of colors for the new mounting.

The conservator and curator selected new silk fabrics that are historically accurate and visually harmonize with the painting. Pattern, color, and the style of the mounting were all taken into consideration. For example, a bright yellow silk decorated with certain birds or dragons would be appropriate for an imperial portrait, while a more subdued tan goes well with this portrait of the emperor's mother-in-law. Since the mounting must complement the painting, the silk is often dyed to soften colors and to make the fabric look older so it blends with the age of the painting. The fabrics are then lined with thin Chinese paper, and wheat starch paste is used to adhere the painting to the mounting. This process takes several weeks to complete.

The new mounting both highlights the portrait and provides a stable support for displaying the scroll. Portrait of Lirongbao's Wife (act. late 17th century). China, Qing dynasty, 18th to 19th century. Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk; image only, 177.6 x 98.6 cm. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Purchase—Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and partial gift of Richard G. Pritzlaff, S1991.129

The new mounting silks were dyed to a shade that harmonizes with the age, color, and style of this portrait. The new fabrics make a durable yet flexible mounting that both shows the painting to its best advantage and creates a safe support for the scroll's display and handling. Back to Introduction

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