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Conservation Prof.Martens Flashcards

1
Q

What is varnish damage and how do you remove it?

A

Varnish damage: oxidation - turning yellow, running blue, blinded varnish, excrement of flies, test window removal varnish central panel.
Varnish removal: Dry mechanical cleaning with eraser (or by rotating movements with fingers), overcleaned varnish, mechanical removal with scalpel, varnish removal with solvent.

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2
Q

Why is magnification useful when looking at paintings?

A

You are able to see small details the naked eye cannot pick up

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3
Q

What are some risks of degradation for supports?

A

Fungi
Insects
Worm holes
Climate

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4
Q

What are the types of retouching?

A

-oil retouching
-resin retouching
-resin-oil retouching

retouching with aqueous solutions
- Aquarel retouching
- Gouache retouching
- Egg tempera retouching
retouching with synthetic media

-acrylic resin retouching (e.g. Paraloïd B72 dissolved in toluene or xylene)
- Polyvinyl acetate retouching (PVAc) (e.g. Mowilith dissolved in ethanol)
-polyvinyl alcohol retouching (PVAl) (e.g. Mowiol dissolved in water)
- Keton-resin retouching

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5
Q

What are blisters?

A

Paint layer lifts forming air bubbles

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6
Q

What are some flaking in paintings?

A

Flaking types: On panel and canvas, disintegration of binding medium, cupping (migration of moisture from exterior wall through canvas and paint layers), blisters on transferred canvas, heat damage, chemical damage.

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7
Q

What do conservators not do?

A

Conservators do not create new cultural or historical goods, other professions do replicas of objects that have been lost.

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8
Q

What does the training and education of a conservator-restorer include?

A

Knowledge of history of art and civilizations, methods of research and documentation, knowledge of technology and materials, conservation theory and ethics, conservation-restoration history and technology, chemistry, biology and physics of deterioration processes and of conservation methods

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9
Q

What is cupping?

A

Migration of moisture from exterior wall through canvas and paint layers
Part of paint layer becomes concave

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10
Q

What causes delaminating?

A

-Movement in support by fluctuating RH
-Movement in support by fluctuating temperature
-Wrong painterly structure
-Colouring layers getting brittle by ageing
-Decreasing adhesion of medium by ageing through
micro-organisms
-Wrong treatment (e.g. wrong lining)
-Mechanical impact

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11
Q

What is the cleaning controversy in conservation?

A

Removing varnish is considered problematic (mostly in Italian school) as it can remove top layers of paint.

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12
Q

What are the limits of a conservator’s expertise?

A

Conservator must work within the limit of their expertise and seek help from others when they lack knowledge

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13
Q

How far does different imaging techniques penetrate?

A
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14
Q

How to clean loosely hanging canvases?

A

Cleaning reverse: cleaning under air pressure, deformation caused by textile patches, removing old lining, facing, vacuum hot-table, treatment of wrinkles, treatment of tears (textile patch with starch or wax), gluing fibre under microscope.

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15
Q

What are some types of retouching?

A
  • Oil retouching
  • Resin retouching
  • Resin-oil retouching
  • Retouching with aqueous solutions
     Aquarelle retouching
     Gouache retouching
     Egg tempera retouching
  • Retouching with synthetic media
     Acrylic resin retouching (e.g., Paraloïd B72 dissolved in toluene or xylene)
     Polyvinyl acetate retouching (PVAc) (e.g., Mowilith dissolved in ethanol)
     Polyvinyl alcohol retouching (PVAl) (e.g., Mowiol dissolved in water)
     Keton-resin retouching
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16
Q

What are some forms of degradation?

A

Rimpling
Discolouring
Increasing transparency through formation of led soaps
Bleeding
Bleaching
Darkening
Waning
Premature cracks
Age cracks
Cracks caused by stretcher
Spiral cracks from bumping into canvas
Fake cracks - incisions
Fake cracks - paint baked in hot heat to make it look older

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17
Q

What is a textile patch on a canvas?

A

Repair damaged canvas with a textile patch

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18
Q

How can you repair wormholes in a wooden panel?

A

Fill holes with epoxy resin
It does discolour the wood

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19
Q

What is filler made from?

A

Glue based filler (e.g. glutine glue and chalk)

Emulsion filler (glue – oil - chalk)

Oil filler (oil – leadwhite or chalk = mastic)

Wax-resin filler

Beva 371-chalk filler
Contains synthetic resin and paraffine desolved in tolueen and gazoline
synthetic resin filler

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20
Q

What are some types of reinforcements for wooden panels?

A
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21
Q

What is the purpose of ICOM and ICOM CC?

A

Action aimed at protecting cultural heritage, ensuring expansibility for future generations, and clarification of language between conservator, restaurateur, and curator.

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22
Q

How can flaking paint be fixed to support?

A

Injecting glue behind paint layer and then pressing down paint layer to fasten

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23
Q

What is varnish cracking?

A

When the varnish layer cracks on top of the paint layer
There can be cracks in the paint layer and the varnish layer

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24
Q

How can a support be treated when infested with fungi or insects?

A

Inject with poison

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25
How common is interdisciplinary work in conservation?
Interdisciplinary work with conservation has become more common in later years even though it has been common in other fields for many years.
26
What is a luxmeter?
Instrument that measures light
27
How can a canvas be repaired?
Sewing ripped part Applying patch with starch of wax Glueing fibres under stereo microscope Woven in mending of hole
28
What are ideal properties of glue in conservation of supports?
- minimal negative ageing - tensionless hardning - insensitive to climate influence - cold usage - glued join cannot be stronger than the original panel Different types Glutine glue Artificial glue (epoxy)
29
How is the document idealistic and vague?
The document says little about interventions itself, doesn't talk about treatment matters, provides little protection for the conservator and doesn't mention reversibility of conservation.
30
How can a counterfeit painting be spotted?
Fake cracks Fake signature over cracks
31
What is heat damage?
When painting is heated over 75 C
32
How do you use preventative conservation?
By controlling humidity and temperature to stay the same Packaging safely during trips Registration, storage, handling, safety, environmental, emergency planning, public awareness Aim to slow down decay
33
How can you counter UV?
UV absorbing glass, film or varnish Curtains Use Incandescent and halogen lights - no UV
34
What is structuring?
Creating texture on filler to mimic the texture of paint layer
35
What is disintegration of binding medium?
When parts of the paint layer falls off
36
What is the ideal climate for a wooden panel?
Humidity: RV 58% Temperature: 18° C. Hanging: Careful against exterior walls No direct sunlight Not near heating Adapted to weight
37
What are climate-boxes?
Box for object with controlled climate inside
38
What factors should you have in mind when handling art?
- Climate control  Ideal for wooden panels: RV 58%. Temperature 18C.  In practice: RV 50% á 60%. - Hanging  Careful against exterior walls  No direct sunlight  Not near heating  Adapted to weight - Properties of glue  Minimal negative ageing  Tensionless hardening  Insensitive to climate influence  Cold usage  Glued join cannot be stronger than the original panel - Glutine glue and artificial glue (epoxy) - Impregnation, chemical flattering - Mixture of chemical and shellac  Wood expends  Wood flattened under pressure  Hardens  Shellac: evaporates
39
What are the dangers of flies and paintings?
Fly excrement cause stains
40
What is delaminating?
Croissant effect
41
What are the risks of a textile patch?
It can deform the canvas when ageing
42
How often and why do you need to change varnish?
Every 60 years Varnish oxidises - It becomes brownish yellowish
43
How do conservation practices differ between countries?
Different techniques work on different paintings and what works on Italian paintings may not work on Flemish paintings.
44
What is ICOM?
International council of museum, founded after WW2, in Paris
45
How can the reverse of a canvas be cleaned?
With air pressure Using a scraper Using a cloth Using a feather/brush
46
What is non-integrated retouching?
When the new paint does not math in texture or cracks
47
What is an Electric thermos hydrographs
Measures temperature and humidity electrically
48
What is chemical damage?
When chemicals destroy painting
49
What is flaking?
Entire paint layer and ground lifts form support
50
What is restoration?
o If there is a hole in a painting and you repair it the painting is restored o You add something to the painting that was not there before Goal is to take object as close to the original state as possible
51
What is the goal of preventative conservation?
Goal is preventing future losses and disturbance of objects
52
What is blinded varnish?
When varnish cracks and the edges become white
53
What is the dangerous part of light?
Ultra Violet radiation (UV)
54
How has the use of materials changed in conservation-restoration?
Until 1970s non-reversible materials were used, now materials that are reversible are used and everything that is added should be able to be removed.
55
What are some degradations and Damages in Paintings?
Degradation types: Rimpling, Discolouring, Bleeding, Bleaching, Darkening, Waning, Premature cracks (by walnut oil), age cracks, cracks caused by stretcher, spiral from cracks visible in raking light, incised, fake cracks, fake cracks - baked, delamination.
56
How can wrinkles be removed from canvas?
Vacuum hot table Stretching (like parchment)
57
What is facing?
Glueing Japanese (washi) paper to paint layer to protect it when restoring the back
58
What is impregnation chemical flattening
Mixture of chemical and shellac - Wood expands - Wood flattened under pressure - hardens - shellac: evaporates
59
What are some types of fillers?
- Glue based filler (e.g., glutine glue and chalk) - Emulsion filler (glue – oil – chalk) - Oil filler (oil – lead white or chalk = mastic) - Wax-resin filler - Beva 371-chalk filler  Contains synthetic resin and paraffined dissolved in tolueen and gasoline synthetic resin filler - Polyvinylalkohol, polyvinylacetate and polyacryl
60
What are some different types of cradles?
61
How is the treatment of an object determined?
How much treatment is done is based on when the values of all previously mentioned factors are the highest. Make detailed reports and use the most appropriate technique.
62
What are some important properties of a canvas?
- Ageing by oxidation - Sensitive to contact with metal - Sensitive to drying oils - Sensitive to UV-radiation - Sensitive to some pigment and dyes - Contains cellulosis: infection by micro-organisms - Sensitive to acid - Reacts strongly on mechanical tension - Hygroscopic
63
What is neutral tone retouching?
Painting missing parts with one colour
64
What is ICOM CC?
Conservation part of ICOM, produced code of ethics in 1984 to establish rules for conservation and push for protecting the title of conservator
65
What methods can varnish be removed with?
Dry or wet method Wet method – solvents dissolve varnish to remove it
66
What is thermal treatment?
Using heat to kill fungi and insects
67
What is silica gel?
Draws in moisture to prevent higher humidity around it
68
How do the conservation practices differ between museums and the art market?
Museums focus on preserving the object while art market focuses on making the object look better.
69
What are some measurement instruments?
Thermo-hydro meter Electric thermos hydrographs Climate-boxes Condition showcases
70
What are some types if solvents?
Carbon compounds: - White spirit - Tolunene and xylone - Turpentine - Alcohol - ethanol, isopropanol - Acetone - Ethyl acetate - Ethyl glycol, diethyl ether Mixtures of carbon compounds Bases and acids Enzymes and resin soaps
71
What is filler?
Used to fill holes paint layer to create even surface
72
What is the role of conservators in preservation of objects?
Conservators see themselves as doctors of the objects. Diagnosis determines the best treatment, treat and work with art historians and scientific people in larger projects. A lot of documentation by imaging the objects.
73
What are condition showcases?
Box for object with controlled climate inside
74
What is varnish oxidisation?
When varnish become discoloured Yellow or blue Blue discolour: Presumably by air pollution
75
What treatment can be done on reverse of canvas?
Wax or oil
76
What values can an object have?
artistic, religious, historic, scientific, cultural, social, or economic value THER IS NO HIERARCHY AMONG VALUES
77
What is ratteggio or rigatini technique
Retouching with multiple lines
78
What are the two methods for finding a useable solution to remove varnish?
o Empirical method – rub solvent on side of painting to see if it dissolves o Scientific method – analyse sample of varnish in lab to see which solvent should be used
79
What is neutral retouching?
Make a color of the colour around the hole, fill in the hole with that color Works for Italian paintings
80
How can varnish be removed?
Mechanically: - With eraser - With fingers - With scalpel With solvents: - Carbon compounds - Mixtures - Bases and acids - Enzymes and resin soaps

Visual art (12 decks)

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