We are the only conservation experts in the Eastern Townships.
Don't leave valuable objects in amateur hands!
Call us for a free estimate:
819-434-2174
ABOUT US
MCP CONSERVATION was founded in 2009 by Marie-Chantale Poisson, professional conservator of paintings and contemporary art.
We have more than10 years of experience in the field. We are the only experts in the restoration of paintings, painted objects and contemporary art in the Eastern Townships.
We guarantee high quality services in conformity with professionnal standards established by the Canadian association of professional conservators and the Canadian association for conservation.
We offer a wide variety of services that serve the needs of our diverse clientele, including museums, galleries, corporations and private collectors. Some of our clients and partners include the City of Sherbrooke, Musée Beaulne, Galerie Jeannine Blais and Encadrements Frontenac..
BIO
Marie-Chantale Poisson obtained her Master's degree in art conservation at Queen's University, and her bachelor's degree in art history at Université du Québec à Montréal.
She specialises in the conservation of easel paintings and has developped an expertise in the conservation of contemporary artworks, of which she enjoys the challenge of working with complex mixtures of materials.
She was the recipient of two bursaries to specialise in the conservation of contemporary art: the IMLS Fellowship in Conservation of Contemporary Art at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2005-2007) and the Claudia de Hueck Fellowship at the National Gallery of Canada (2005).
Marie-Chantale Poisson has over 10 years of experience in the field and has worked for several great museum institutions in Canada and the United States. She also worked in private practices in Montreal and Ottawa, where she served a diverse clientele composed of museums, art galleries, public collections, corporations and private collectors.
She conforms to the Code of Ethics and Practice Guide from the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators and the Canadian Association for Conservation.
OUR SERVICES
CONSULTING SERVICES
Preventive Conservation
Storage
Installation
Transportation
CONSERVATION- RESTORATION
Easel paintings
Antique frames
Painted objects
Mural paintings
Contemporary art
TECHNICAL SERVICES
Conferences
Training
Maintenance
Customised packing
GALLERY
PORTFOLIO
W. Sawyer "Portrait of Phoebe Flint"
Oil on canvas, 19th century
Glanmore National Historic Site Collection
Before treatment (detail):
This work showed a large puncture, losses as well as blanching of the varnisah layer from water damage.
After treatment (detail):
The canvas was relined, the surface cleaned, losses were filled and inpainted, and the painting received a final protective varnish layer.
(Unknown) "Temple Scene"
Tempera on wood panel, c. 16th century
Before treatment:
Over time the wood has desiccated and shrank, causing the paint layers to lift severely. Previous restorations had seen a thick layer of greyish mastic applied all over the surface, along with tissue paper bridges adhered to the most fragile areas, in an attempt to retain the paint layers onto the surface.
These interventions proved to be detrimental as they promoted further lifting of the paint layers by preventing their natural movement.
The objective for this treatment consisted in the removal of the old restorations, and the stabilising of the paint layers in a more adequate manner.
(next...)
Tempera on wood panel, c.16th century
After treatment:
Old restorations were carefully removed with a scalpel under the microscope.
The paint layers were stabilised and re-adhered onto the wood panel with the introduction of an adhesive combined with heat. The work now rests in a stable condition.
This treatment revealed a greek inscription in the lower left portion, which enabled historians to confirm the subject to be a Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. It is thought that the work was produced in the area of Crete, where greek and italian cultures met in the 16th-17th centuries.
(Unknown) "Portrait of a Young Girl"
(private coll.)
This portrait of a young girl was veiled by a very darkened varnish layer and many discolored overpainted areas that were found mainly in the lower section.
The goal for this treatment was to remove the discolored varnish and overpainted layers, in order to retrieve the work's original sheen.
Removal of two discolored varnish layers and old restorations revealed two canvas addition along the top and bottom edges, and an important detail of the composition, which had been concealed by the overpaint: the girl holding a book.
This discovery shed a new light on the work: it has once been part of a larger composition. In an attempt to create a balanced composition with this remaining portion, someone had added canvas and painted over the hands so that it would appear like a properly-centered portrait.
The surface was varnished, the losses were filled and retouched so that the composition regained a unified appearance.
Simon Andrew "Moorish Door" (detail)
Encaustic on masonite, 2000
(artist's coll.)
The thick encaustic layers (mix of wax, turpentine and pigments) showed severe cracking and lifting following mishandling of the work, which caused temporary warping of the masonite support.
The objective for this treatment was to re-adhere the paint layers onto the masonite, and to add support to the back of the work in order to prevent warping.
The paint layers were re-adhered to the masonite support by injecting an adhesive which was left to dry under weights.
Cracks were filled with a gesso mixture, and inpainted with gouache.
The masonite support was adhered onto a thick acid-free cardboard before the work was put back into its frame.
Gilded ornate frame, 19th century
This antique gilded frame had suffered severe losses and overall fragilisation and surface grime following a water damage.
Fragile areas were consolidated, the surface was cleaned and missing elements were reproduced using plaster mouldings. Losses were filled with a gesso mixture and retouched/gilded to re-integrate them to the whole ensemble.
B. Flanagan "The Drummer", bronze, 1996
Outdoor sculpture maintenance:
Outdoor sculptures such as these bronzes reuire regular maintenance in order to keep weather-related damages under control.
B. Hepworth "River Form", bronze, 1965
...Generally the surface is cleaned and a seasonal protective layer is applied once a year (or more).
(Unknown) Arch medallion, oil on plaster, c.1913
Architectural element from a heritage building in Montreal
This large arch medallion had been overpainted during a renovation campaign in the 1970s.
Removal of the overpaint revealed a beautifully hand-painted reproduction of the Canadian Arms.
J-P Jérôme, "Untitled", oil on canvas, 1957 (detail)
(Coll. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa)
This work dating from the Plasticiens period showed severe abrasions in the paint layers all over the surface.
The surface was cleaned before proceeding to its retouching with a water-based medium, in order to re-unify the planes of colors.
Serge Tousignant "Exit" Painted steel, 1966
Canada Council Art Bank Coll.
Objects laying directly on the floor and without barriers are more vulnerable to damages and accidents while on view.
Detail of the yellow element (far left)
before treatment
after treatment
Treatment:
The surface was cleaned and scuffmarks were retouched
This portfolio is an overview of some of the past conservation treatments performed by Marie-Chantale Poisson.
Copyrights restrictions prevent us to publish many images. Our complete portfolio can be consulted in person by appointment.
MCP Conservation
Questions?
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
* For more information on conservation-restoration, please visit our page.
LINKS
American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
Canadian association for conservation (CAC)
Canadian association of professional conservators (CAPC)
Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)
Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN)
Centre de Conservation du Québec (CCQ)
- Online guide about the conservation & care of cultural heritage
Conseil de la Culture de l'Estrie
Conservation OnLine (CoOl)
Heritage Canada Foundation
International Council of Museums - Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC)
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We are located in Sherbrooke, Qc.
