The portrait of Effie Gray by Sir John Everett Millais recently went back on display in Perth Art Gallery. But prior to this were you aware that it was off display undergoing important research and conservation treatment?

Miriam Parry, Conservation Intern with the Pilgrim Trust’s Fine Arts Project, writes in this short blog about the work carried out by postgraduate students from the University of Glasgow‘s Kelvin Centre for Conservation and Cultural Heritage Research (Technical Art History department)

You may have noticed that our portrait of Effie Millais by Sir John Everett Millais hasn’t been on display for a while. We have been carrying out important research and conservation treatment in partnership with students at the University of Glasgow Technical Art History department, and our inhouse conservation team. We have carried out important technical imaging examinations to establish how Millais may have painted the portrait, and how the materials used have changed over time.

The students carried out complete technical examinations of the portrait of Effie Gray by Sir John Everett Millais.

With their help, we conducted XRF pigment sampling on the paintings to help establish which pigments and materials were used by both artists. XRF, or X-ray fluorescence, uses an X-ray beam to read the chemical elements in the materials within a sample area.

XRF pigment sampling helps conservators and art historians further understand the artistic process. It is an accurate and non-destructive examination of the materials, allowing us to further research the history of the artworks, authenticate and accurately date paintings, and develop methods to preserve them from further damage.

Work was also carried out on Fishing Boats attributed to a follower of Pijnacker.

This research is a part of an important conservation project being conducted on the Old Master’s paintings, preserving them for years to come.

These posts orignally appeared on Culture Perth and Kinross social media channels in July and August 2025.