J. E. H. MacDonald: Winter scene, 
oil on paper board, 8x10 inches

This case was one of those bizarre things one hopes never to see again. This lovely painting was brought in for restoration in two pieces. A Montreal framing establishment attempted to 'transfer' the paint layer from this panel to a new support presumably due to the damage to the panel. A 'facing' of newspaper was applied to protect the paint layer but the inappropriate strength of the glue and the shrinkage of the paper literally tore away large portions of the painting from the board it was painted on. The challenge was to reset the ripped off paint glued to the newsprint back to the panel and then do the transferring properly. Only then could the painting be cleaned and varnished. Patience and skill paid off and a small Canadian art treasure has been saved.
  

The large blank region in the middle of this photo is on the newsprint to the right.	This page of the 'Journal de Montreal' supported the ripped of paint layer. With a clever plan the losses were reattached to the painting.
The panel after being reconstituted from the parts on the news print. There was only one attempt possible and it had to be right. Once glued down, there was no possibility of making changes.	After cleaning, filling and retouching. Despite some losses due to the prior inexpert treatment, the painting has been brought back to a condition very close to its original.