John Canning & Co.

The Maryland Old Senate Chamber is a great example of the colors common of the colonial style. During our restoration of the chambers, we macerated powdered whiting & animal glue, then mixed in dry pigments to create the color scheme seen today. #TraditionalMaterials

Our team used specialized cleaning agents to gently lift and remove the layers of dirt from the floor, revealing a stunning design that had been hidden for years. Thanks to our conservation cleaning, this beautiful tile floor can be enjoyed once more. #ConservationCleaning

We restored the decorative painting on Alumni Hall’s ceiling panels at Indiana University. The decorative scheme was executed on canvas in our studio using field measurements & architectural drawings. The canvas was then installed onsite, & the result is shown here. #CustomWork

Mockups are a great way to get a glimpse of what a finished design will look like. This mockup we produced for the Missouri Supreme Court showed what the historic paint campaign that we uncovered during our earlier investigation would look like when reinstated. #Mockups

Ornamental woodwork in historic buildings may be understood as the appropriate architectural proportions of interior ornament made from wood. In this blog, we provide types of #ornamentalwoodwork in historic buildings. Read it here, bit.ly/Canning_Orname… 📸Robert Benson Photo

We're proud to be a part of the Salt Lake Temple project, and to observe its progress toward completion. Take a look for yourselves in this recently released video, featuring the Salt Lake Temple renovation over the past five years, bit.ly/SaltLakeTemple #SacredSpaces

The artwork above the entrance of the Archdiocese of the Military Chapel was designed & produced by our artists. The paintings of St. George & St. John 23rd honor the military virtues of bravery & mercy. The #WatercolorSketch of St. George slaying the dragon is pictured here.

While gilding most often refers to gold leaf, the term also applies to other metals turned into leaf. This video shows the application of silver leaf during a mockup in the studio & provides a glimpse into the nature and delicateness of metal leaf. #MetalLeaf #StudioScenes

We had the honor of working at the Mark Twain House during our project to restore the Mahogany Suite. Our project included the use of traditional methods to consolidate plaster, refinish the woodwork, perform gilding, and install reproduction wallpaper. 📸RobertBensonPhotography

Thank you to @SmithsonianFolk for hosting the #2025Folklife Festival and to those who visited our booth! Featured are pictures from our Shop Talks and demonstrations of some of our decorative painting skills, specifically for part of the #gilding and #woodgraining process.

With the rise of Hollywood in the early 20th century, the demand for ornate movie palaces increased across the country. Our recent blog discusses the rise of these "Picture Palaces," & the need for their renewal. Read here: bit.ly/ThePeoplesPala… © 2024 Puliatti Photographic

Meet the newest Faith & Form winners, including Canning's San Joselito Adoration Chapel! The free virtual awards presentation is on July 23rd from 12-2 EDT. Hear from winners, jurors, & remarks by David Riccio. AIA members earn 2 LUs. Register here: bit.ly/FaithAndForm

#ConservationCleaning is a key part of fine art restoration. Before large-scale cleaning is performed, smaller sections are cleaned using a gentle test solution to discover what type of cleaning solution is best. The colors can then be restored to their original brilliance.

Not all fine art restoration occurs on the front, painted side of a canvas! In this video, our restoration professional uses tools to remove old glue and finishes from the back of an artwork. #ArtConservation #ArtRestoration

We were entrusted with the restoration & conservation of the Virginia State Capitol. For our project, we restored the historic decorative painting & gilding in the Chamber of the House of Delegates, Senate Chamber & the Rotunda, shown here. #CivicRestoration #DecorativePainting

Only a few more days to come visit us at the #2025Folklife Festival by @SmithsonianFolk. Enjoy a clip from our demonstrations at the festival, showing a portion of our #woodgraining process to create a tree burl effect. Visit our booth on the National Mall until July 7th!

Happy #IndependenceDay from the Canning crew! To keep with the patriotic theme of the day we are highlighting our #gilding work for the Bergen County Justice Center in NJ. Here you can see 1 of the 5 restored golden eagle statues representing strength, freedom & independence.

Today marks day two of the #2025Folklife Festival by @SmithsonianFolklife. Here, you can see the company's Founder, John Canning, mixing up paint at our booth to demonstrate part of the #woodgraining process. Stop by and visit us on the National Mall until July 7th!

Decorative #woodwork is a key element in many #sacredspaces, contributing to both artistic & historical identity. At this Gothic Revival #historicchurch, part of our work included #woodconservation of the angel sculptures & ceiling. #churchrestoration 📸Robert Benson Photography

Here you can see a portion of the results of our #restoration work for the Ballroom ceiling at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. Some of our work included restoring #historicplaster, #decorativepainting, #fineart, and #gilding. #LandmarkRestoration 📸Robert Benson Photography