I really enjoyed watching the transformation of this painting as it really was bonfire-worthy before you got it. You have incredible skill and patience and I was very interested when you got to the retouching part. It would be so tempting to overpaint the whole thing instead of respecting what remains of the original after its abuse and just touch up dot by dot. I have to admit when you took your first swab with solvent on the painting for the first clean, I was holding my breath and almost expecting an “oh shit” moment but you didn’t ruin it. 😊. Well done.

At 26:46 "...was eventually persuaded by her son to leave it and have it properly cleaned at some time in the future". Wow, this is actually referring to you. You are are the person who properly cleaned it some time in the (very distant) future. What an amazing thing to be linked to the past in this way. Great series, I really enjoyed it 😊

He's gone from Cousin Collins to Mr. Darcy 😂

Nice change from Baumgartner! Thanks, Algorithm. 😊

I would happily watch an hour of just retouching with just ambient sound. No problem at all. No music or editing needed.

I think the signature is J R Smith (John Raphael Smith). He did work in oils and the time period would fit. He died in 1812, so his being ill would fit as well.

I love how this restoration went from a pictures of "momma's chunky boy posing for a soup label" to "respected world weary english gentleman."

Thank you for another long episode, I hope there will be more of them in the future. know that editing them takes up a lot of your private time, but I think that I'm not the only one who finds long episodes more enjoyable I wish you have a nice day.

It just blows me away how Williams turned this handsome man into a caricature.

Loving the longer vids. The shorts are probably a great way to raise interest, but I always look forward to the longer formats.

Your retouching is appropriately delicate and so well done. I also really enjoy hearing more of the painting's story along with your research and speculation about its painter. The serial nature of your videos gives us a more realistic idea of what it's like actually doing a painting restoration, and at a more realistic pace than most of the other KZfaq restoration videos. Great work - and I'm anticipating the next part!

If James Sant wasn't born in 1820 it would be tempting to think it was his name on this painting.

So glad there’s another video on this gent. And what great history of the painting.

This is turning out so good. When I first saw it I thought it was just a mediocre sort of ugly portrait. But now his facial features are gorgeous and so interesting. You're very talented. I don't usually comment but I was just thinking today I really enjoy your videos. I appreciate the effort you put into them to share this beautiful art with us. You're very skilled and I love just watching you work. Also helps that you have a very nice voice and you're pretty attractive. All adds up to be an enjoyable part of my week seeing your video. So thank you

Brilliant! Those "eye dots" were bothersome, so I'm eager to see the finished work on them. He's looking mighty handsome now--and even though his story is sad, I am grateful to learn more about him. Kudos!

The change from the beginning to now is amazing. Thank you for sharing the entire process through all of the videos. Some other paintings I have watched are shortened down. And made to a small video. Having this much care into the project but also allowing us to witness every part is something spectacular.

Try converting your photograph of the signature to the Lab color space (instead of RGB). Lab is based on eye cone biology, so you might be able to discern more by emphasizing L, a, or b. Yuv is another biological color space that might help. Photoshop supports both if I recall correctly.

Dotting in the blemishes - very satisfying. Something I've done in Photoshop many times but never in a real painting.

Relaxing to listen to you. It’s looking great. Looking forward to the rest! Thank you.

Outstanding work. You could do with the assistance of one of the museums with their battery of scanners and non-visible light cameras to assist with the signature conundrum.

I always enjoy your restorations! Bravo.

For the signature - make a RAW image of the area and bring that into Photoshop - for maximum dynamic range. Then work with Levels and the usual filters etc. Also try making an HDR image. And using directional lighting (left, right, top, bottom) and working or combining these images. An infinite amount of messing around is possible...😀

Mr. Williamson made this gentleman look exactly like Liberace (the flamboyant pianist)

I so enjoy your channel. This is the most remarkable transformation of an overpainted portrait I've seen! Your warm welcome into your world is like visiting a good friend. You let us follow your research, thoughts and even asking if we might have any thoughts. Today's updated history expands the journey even more. Thank You for bringing us along your journey through restoration and history.

My goodness, The Regency Gent has turned into a handsome man! That five o'clock shadow is quite sexy. Thank you for showing your work in so much detail. It's been very enjoyable

What a handsome chap 😊

You must have the patience of Job! I'd go crazy trying to retouch and restore paintings even though I really enjoy watching you work. I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos. Thank you so much for sharing.😊

William Beechey has a really distinctive flourish in his signature where the B extends under the W much like what’s happening here. Also painted Nelson and the Prince Regent.

Does anyone else hold their breath as he starts retouching?

I can't wait to see the finale!

Cannot wait for the next installment!

Love your technique 😊

Good solid progress -- looking SO much better.

Really enjoying your commentary. Thanks for all your hard work

Lovely video. Very fine pinpoint work on the face.

Ah, I've been waiting for the fifth part!

Finesse!

Love the angle of that button !

Epic

Longer the better

He's looking full of character now. Almost as if he could walk off the painting into real life

I know it doesn't fit the legend of the family, but the style reminds me a little of the painter Joseph Willibrord Mähler, who painted some pretty famous pictures, for example of Beethoven. I don't know if he was ever in England and for what reason he might have painted this gentleman. At the time of the painting, he was not an old man either, but the style, if you look at the painting of Salieri, for example, looks quite similar to me. For example, the eyes, the shadow of the beard, or even the buttons. But maybe it's just because this kind of portraits were probably painted similarly everywhere in Europe, the fashion for example was the same everywhere. It's really difficult to say.

It’s a great story, you always wonder how much is true

Thanks for telling the history of the painting. Have you contacted the National Portrait Gallery. Hoppner sounds logical. It looks like the signature is J Sant, but the J Sant who was a portrait painter was born in 1820. You are doing a great job!

Fascinating to watch you bring the Gentleman back to life, but as I look at the right side of the jaw and down onto the neck there seems to be a heavy, unnatural shape, almost as if there is still over-painting or possibly too heavy a shadow with a heavy outline, is this something you have noticed?

My suggestion is Henry Bone or William Beechey. Thinking that the first letter is an H??? Portraitists of the period. What do you think? Both painted the Prince Regent.

Could be a portrait of Charles Dodgson a.k.a Lewis Carroll 1832-1898 when he was 38 years old by portraitist James Sant 1820-1916 in 1870

Wouldn’t you love to have a chat with Mr Williamson and just ask him “why…?”

Your work is masterful and a pleasure to watch. Are you sure you are not related to this man yourself? There are similarities albeit you are slimmer and more handsome.😉😊

What a wonderful transformation! Is there remains of the chubby cheek the overpainter added on his left side?

James Sant 1820-1916; The date could be 1870

First letter looks like an M or B to me, especially through the first few filters. M or B SATT (even a possible Z and on end)

I think that last name on the signature definitely looks like Smith.

For me, before you put your dots, the signature looked something like "W.SAnTS or J.SAnTS. The First letter could also be a U, maybe.

Riveting. A name which springs to mind is Sir John Watson Gordon...? An early work of his opus?

The work you have done great. I do have a question, is the background something like a stormy sky or does it just not show well on KZfaq? If it’s stormy it really adds to the image of the gent.

I can't wait to see more!

prevalent is stressed on the first syllable, with the e of less, illogical as that may seem

One angle to look at re the artist is quite often the same artist also painted other members of the family so....

Hoppner seems not to have signed many of his paintings, if any.

Could that be a B, maybe Brent.

John Hoppner seems a pretty good fit. Some of his sky backgrounds are just like this one. Cheery blue patches along with moody grey patches in what looks like the same colours. His portraits of the Sackville children, Elizabeth Sophia Baillie, and Princess Mary look to have very similar skies to me. I think J Hoppner is consistent with the remains of the signature as well. Many of Hoppner’s portraits of gentlemen seem very like Mr Lloyd too. Especially Capt. Henry Blackwood, Sir Thomas Strange, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and Major General Sir Henry Willoughby Rooke.

Do a picture search in Google.

Please don't be offended, but, there's not enough retouching shown. You must spend hours retouching, so, just set up the camera and let us watch. You don't even need to do a running commentary.

Your microphone in the voice over is a little too close to your mouth. Love the video otherwise!