Michael Harding : Matt Varnish V2

Michael Harding Matt Varnish V2 is a final matt varnish for oil paintings, made to a 19th-century recipe with beeswax and double-rectified Portuguese turpentine. It is intended for use only on oil colours that have been allowed to dry fully before varnishing.

Before application, the container should be warmed in water until the wax becomes clear, then the varnish can be applied sparingly to the painting surface. It dries to a matt finish within a few minutes, but oil paintings should be left for at least six months before varnishing, or 12 months if they contain several thick layers of paint.