Gaudenzio Ferrari: Entombment, with the Virgin and Mary Magdalen
  tempera on panel transferred to canvas, 57.5 x 59 cm.

One of the great enemies of paintings on wood is worming. This 500 year old painting had its support of wood literally eaten to the point that it could not provide support for the painted layer any longer. A complex and time consuming procedure known as 'transferring' was carried out. During this intervention the old wooden support was slowly removed until nothing but the paint layer and ground remained. With the application of adhesive a new support was attached that will provide adequate mechanical support for the paint layer for many years to come. Once accomplished, the painting was safely cleaned which revealed the effects of worming and many previous abrasions. Ultraviolet and infrared examination revealed many layers of previous overpainting which were meticulously removed. Filling, delicate retouching and a final application of varnish completed the conservation and restoration process. 
 

The painting before transfer and restoration. Large areas of overpainting are evident. The reason was undoubtedly the degree of deterioration of the support and accumulated mechanical damage.	This is how the ground or 'gesso' appeared from behind when the last traces of wood were removed from the surface that was in contact with the panel.
After transferring the painting was cleaned and all remains of previous retouching removed.	The final appearance following retouching and varnishing.