Some examples of the restoration process
Card Players: The original print was colored crudely, so the coloring was removed. The image was then redrawn, water colored, and printed in a limited edition.
The image depicts a medieval game of cards where Leafs and Hearts appear to be showing as suits and chips or coins are in play. Master Ingold. Das Buch, das man mennt das Guldon Spil. Woodcut and watercolor. Printed in Augsburg by Günther Zeiner, 1472.
Tournament Scene with Fool: This was enhanced by drawing over the original drawing which was made with pen and black ink over black chalk by Jörg Breu the Elder in 1537.
At the back, a trio of heralds on horseback announce the participants with their trumpets, while the referee raises his arm to signal the start of the action. A warrior clad in armor makes his entrance, holding a long lance astride a richly decorated horse. A jester jumps in front of him to entertain the gathered crowd.
The Totentanz', the "Dance of Death", was the first book in which the dance of death was portrayed. The author is unknown but it was printed by Heinrich Knoblochtzer in Heidelberg, 1488. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (State Library of Bavaria) in Munich. The original print was colored crudely, so the coloring was removed. The image was then redrawn, water colored, and printed in a limited edition.
Hefneryn: A picture of a lady potter operating a foot driven potter's wheel in the mid-1400's, from a Hapsburg Court playing card. The original print was re-drawn and then re-colored. Hofämterspiel, "game of the offices of the Court", is one of the oldest card games known, dating back to 1455, with woodcuts painted by hand, The illustrations depict the precedence of different functions to the court during the late Middle Ages.
Knights Fighting: In this manual of fighting, Knights, some on horseback, are depicted in hand-to-hand combat. Christine, de Pisan's (1364-1430) Faits d'armes et de chevalerie, Westminster, printed by William Caxton, 14 July 1489 (4th year of the reign of Henry VII).
Winged Dragon
Ulisse Aldrovandi’s posthumous Serpentum, et draconum historiae libri duo (The History of Serpents and Dragons), Bologna, 1640.
This wonderful engraving was particularly rough and required extensive re-drawing.