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
Q

How common is interdisciplinary work in conservation?

A

Interdisciplinary work with conservation has become more common in later years even though it has been common in other fields for many years.

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26
Q

What is a luxmeter?

A

Instrument that measures light

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27
Q

How can a canvas be repaired?

A

Sewing ripped part
Applying patch with starch of wax
Glueing fibres under stereo microscope
Woven in mending of hole

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28
Q

What are ideal properties of glue in conservation of supports?

A
  • 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)

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29
Q

How is the document idealistic and vague?

A

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.

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30
Q

How can a counterfeit painting be spotted?

A

Fake cracks
Fake signature over cracks

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31
Q

What is heat damage?

A

When painting is heated over 75 C

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32
Q

How do you use preventative conservation?

A

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

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33
Q

How can you counter UV?

A

UV absorbing glass, film or varnish
Curtains
Use Incandescent and halogen lights - no UV

34
Q

What is structuring?

A

Creating texture on filler to mimic the texture of paint layer

35
Q

What is disintegration of binding medium?

A

When parts of the paint layer falls off

36
Q

What is the ideal climate for a wooden panel?

A

Humidity: RV 58%
Temperature: 18° C.

Hanging:
Careful against exterior walls
No direct sunlight
Not near heating
Adapted to weight

37
Q

What are climate-boxes?

A

Box for object with controlled climate inside

38
Q

What factors should you have in mind when handling art?

A
  • 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
Q

What are the dangers of flies and paintings?

A

Fly excrement cause stains

40
Q

What is delaminating?

A

Croissant effect

41
Q

What are the risks of a textile patch?

A

It can deform the canvas when ageing

42
Q

How often and why do you need to change varnish?

A

Every 60 years
Varnish oxidises - It becomes brownish yellowish

43
Q

How do conservation practices differ between countries?

A

Different techniques work on different paintings and what works on Italian paintings may not work on Flemish paintings.

44
Q

What is ICOM?

A

International council of museum, founded after WW2, in Paris

45
Q

How can the reverse of a canvas be cleaned?

A

With air pressure
Using a scraper
Using a cloth
Using a feather/brush

46
Q

What is non-integrated retouching?

A

When the new paint does not math in texture or cracks

47
Q

What is an Electric thermos hydrographs

A

Measures temperature and humidity electrically

48
Q

What is chemical damage?

A

When chemicals destroy painting

49
Q

What is flaking?

A

Entire paint layer and ground lifts form support

50
Q

What is restoration?

A

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
Q

What is the goal of preventative conservation?

A

Goal is preventing future losses and disturbance of objects

52
Q

What is blinded varnish?

A

When varnish cracks and the edges become white

53
Q

What is the dangerous part of light?

A

Ultra Violet radiation (UV)

54
Q

How has the use of materials changed in conservation-restoration?

A

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
Q

What are some degradations and Damages in Paintings?

A

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
Q

How can wrinkles be removed from canvas?

A

Vacuum hot table
Stretching (like parchment)

57
Q

What is facing?

A

Glueing Japanese (washi) paper to paint layer to protect it when restoring the back

58
Q

What is impregnation chemical flattening

A

Mixture of chemical and shellac
- Wood expands
- Wood flattened under pressure
- hardens
- shellac: evaporates

59
Q

What are some types of fillers?

A
  • 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
Q

What are some different types of cradles?

A
61
Q

How is the treatment of an object determined?

A

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
Q

What are some important properties of a canvas?

A
  • 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
Q

What is neutral tone retouching?

A

Painting missing parts with one colour

64
Q

What is ICOM CC?

A

Conservation part of ICOM, produced code of ethics in 1984 to establish rules for conservation and push for protecting the title of conservator

65
Q

What methods can varnish be removed with?

A

Dry or wet method
Wet method – solvents dissolve varnish to remove it

66
Q

What is thermal treatment?

A

Using heat to kill fungi and insects

67
Q

What is silica gel?

A

Draws in moisture to prevent higher humidity around it

68
Q

How do the conservation practices differ between museums and the art market?

A

Museums focus on preserving the object while art market focuses on making the object look better.

69
Q

What are some measurement instruments?

A

Thermo-hydro meter
Electric thermos hydrographs
Climate-boxes
Condition showcases

70
Q

What are some types if solvents?

A

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
Q

What is filler?

A

Used to fill holes paint layer to create even surface

72
Q

What is the role of conservators in preservation of objects?

A

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
Q

What are condition showcases?

A

Box for object with controlled climate inside

74
Q

What is varnish oxidisation?

A

When varnish become discoloured
Yellow or blue
Blue discolour: Presumably by air pollution

75
Q

What treatment can be done on reverse of canvas?

A

Wax or oil

76
Q

What values can an object have?

A

artistic, religious, historic, scientific, cultural, social, or economic value
THER IS NO HIERARCHY AMONG VALUES

77
Q

What is ratteggio or rigatini technique

A

Retouching with multiple lines

78
Q

What are the two methods for finding a useable solution to remove varnish?

A

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
Q

What is neutral retouching?

A

Make a color of the colour around the hole, fill in the hole with that color
Works for Italian paintings

80
Q

How can varnish be removed?

A

Mechanically:
- With eraser
- With fingers
- With scalpel
With solvents:
- Carbon compounds
- Mixtures
- Bases and acids
- Enzymes and resin soaps