‘Portrait of an unknown cardinal’ by Titian

This portrait, from the collection of Petworth House in West Sussex, a National Trust property, was thought to be by a follower of Titian. On arrival at the studio, there were prominent areas of overpaint, visible to the naked eye, including some areas of the costume and also the background on both sides of the sitter, where a dark brown overpaint could be seen over what appears to be an original greenish dark colour. Details such as buttons in the costume were obscured by the discoloured varnish present on the work but can just be made out using a focused spotlight. There were differing textures over the surface of the painting, particularly at the bottom of the composition. The evidence suggested that damage had been caused by water ingress, and a piece of canvas 5-6 cm high had been sewn to the bottom of the original canvas support (diagonal stitches were visible in raking light); a lining canvas had then been applied to the reverse of the original, and the new section of canvas at the bottom of the painting was painted with a red paint layer and a ledge was painted over, reconstructing the prayer book and the sitter’s fingers. Some information points to a restoration intervention in the 1830s. A more modern conservation treatment (circa mid-20th century) was also evident. Our treatment involved removal of the discoloured varnish, the overpaint, and also of old fill where it had poor texture or extended over original paint. In discussion with the client, it was agreed to remove the painted ledge which had been added later. Titian’s characteristic brushstrokes emerged throughout the painting. The work was seen by the expert Peter Humfrey who said it was by Titian and dated c.1550