THE ARCHIVE / 01
One of the things I find myself doing quite often at The Relic Gallery is removing glass from vintage oil paintings.
It might seem like a small detail, but the difference it makes can be remarkable. A painting that once appeared dull or obscured can suddenly reveal an entirely different character, simply because there is no longer a layer of glass between the artwork and the viewer.
Seeing the Painting as It Was Intended
One of the things I love most about original oil paintings is their texture.
Unlike a print, an oil painting has a physical surface. Brushstrokes catch the light, layers of pigment create depth, and small variations in the paint reveal the artist's hand.
Glass can sometimes conceal those qualities.
Reflections compete with the artwork, colors appear less immediate, and the subtle details that make an original painting special become harder to appreciate.
When I remove unnecessary glass from a suitable oil painting, the change is often immediate. The colors feel richer, the brushwork becomes more apparent, and the painting has a presence that wasn't quite there before.
It's one of my favorite transformations to witness.
Why Were Oil Paintings Framed Behind Glass?
Not every vintage oil painting was originally intended to be displayed behind glass.
Over the years, paintings are often reframed, passed between owners, or placed in frames that weren't specifically made for them. Sometimes glass is added during that process.
In other cases, glazing serves a protective purpose, particularly when an artwork has a delicate surface or requires additional protection.
That's why I don't remove glass from every painting. I consider the medium, surface, and overall presentation before deciding whether it's appropriate.
But when the glass isn't necessary, removing it can allow the painting to be appreciated in an entirely different way.
How to Remove Glass From a Vintage Oil Painting
Before removing glass, it's important to determine whether the painting can safely be displayed without it. Not every painting is a suitable candidate, particularly works on paper, pastels, or paintings with fragile or flaking surfaces.
For a stable oil painting on canvas or panel, here's the general process I follow:
- Examine the frame. Look at how the backing and artwork are secured, checking for framing points, nails, or other fasteners.
- Prepare a clean workspace. Lay the painting face down on a padded, stable surface, taking care not to put pressure on the painted surface or decorative frame.
- Carefully remove the backing. Depending on the frame, this may involve gently lifting framing points or removing small nails. I find that needle-nose pliers work best in most cases.
- Separate the glass. Once the framing components are safely released, carefully lift the glass away without allowing it to scrape against the painting.
- Inspect and resecure the artwork. Make sure the painting is properly supported in its frame. I absolutely love my point driver for securing artwork, but you don't need an expensive tool to get started. Framer's points are inexpensive, and there are affordable manual point-setting tools as well. Some framing points can be carefully installed with a small hammer and suitable setting tool, provided the frame and artwork are properly supported.
If the glass is touching the paint, appears stuck, or the artwork shows signs of instability, I would leave it in place and consult a professional conservator.
Removing glass isn't always the right decision, but when it's appropriate, it can make a remarkable difference in how an original oil painting is experienced.
The Stories Hidden Behind the Frame
There's another part of this process that I especially enjoy.
Occasionally, removing a painting from its frame reveals something unexpected.
An old inscription. A handwritten name. A gallery label. A date or a note left behind by a previous owner.
These small discoveries can offer clues about a painting's history, sometimes opening the door to further research about the artist or the places the artwork has traveled.
Not every painting holds a hidden discovery, of course, but the possibility makes the process all the more interesting.
They're small reminders that vintage paintings often carry stories beyond the artwork itself.
Appreciating the Original
For me, removing glass is ultimately about allowing the painting to speak for itself.
I love being able to see the individual brushstrokes, the subtle variations in color, and the texture that distinguishes an original work of art from a reproduction.
Sometimes the most meaningful improvements to a painting's presentation don't involve changing the artwork at all.
They're simply about removing what stands between us and the artist's original work.
And when that happens, it's remarkable how much more there is to see.