Although the painting received first aid treatment 30 years ago to arrest the flaking, the old lining behind the canvas has become even more brittle and is no longer holding down the paint. The cracks in the paint threaten to make the painting unsuitable for display and could do irreparable damage if left untreated. The varnish layers on top of the paint are also discoloured and there are also areas of old restoration which have now discoloured and stand out against the original paint.

Removal of the thick layers of discoloured varnish from the work's surface work will improve the painting’s appearance, restoring depth and clarity to the composition. Once cleaned, the painting will be relined with a new backing canvas to reattach the cracking paint to the support. Any losses to the paint that have occurred around the cracks will be carefully filled and retouched. Conservation will also give an opportunity for technical analysis such as x-ray and infrared technology.