How Do I Go About Cleaning Oil Paintings

Any advice about cleaning an oil painting that's covered in dust or yellowed varnish must come with a major disclaimer. More than other kinds of do-it-yourself projects, cleaning oil paintings should really be trusted to expert conservators. Furthermore, altering true antiques almost always decreases their value, whether or not they look better to you. If your painting is not that old, not terribly valuable, or not too important, however, there are a few possible ways to make it look brighter and cleaner yourself.
Before the 1940s, paintings of oil on canvas were frequently covered with a layer of varnish to add sheen and protect the thick layer of paint, called the impasto. Yet varnish reacts differently to the environment than does paint, so these varnish seals end up cracking, yellowing, or gumming up over time. It can make the original hue of the oil paints look dull or discolored.

This is the case for the United States. In order to copyright a painting, one should refer to the instructions set forth in a document titled Circular 40A, which details how to copyright a painting within America, as well as how to copyright various other pieces of creative intellectual property. When submitting information to copyright a painting, one must include copies of the painting, which can mean including high-quality photographs that capture the complete painting.