Display, care, and conservation of drawings Flashcards
How does mold affect paper?
o Biological source of degradation
o Foxing – dots of rusty brown
o Difficult to remove – can be done with a solution
How does one take care of a drawing?
- Opening a file
a. Drawing arrives in conservation lab
i. Drawing is documented – pictures and text - Checking there is no mold
a. Removing active mold - Removing dust
a. With brush or eraser - Look at the support of the drawing
a. Has it been mounted?
i. Is the mount important to the drawing – inscriptions etc
b. Keep the mount or remove it? - Remove traces of glues
a. Special machines that send out air - Restoration innervations
a. Difference between esthetic restoration and structural restoration
What is the difference between infrared photography and infrared reflectography?
However, the narrow range of wavelengths used in infrared photography limits the pigments that can be penetrated. Infrared reflectography is capable of recording a wider range of wavelengths, allowing for even greater penetration of different colours.
What are mounts?
Drawing is pasted on large piece of cardboard
How were drawings displayed in albums?
Put in cardboard boxes made from non-acidic material
What is Magnification check?
o Looking at drawing with magnification
o Reveals smaller details and how media is applied
What materials should be used when making a mount?
- Non-acidic paper with natural pH
- Fragile drawing – thick mounting support
- Glue: cellulosic ether or wheat starch paste
- Today no animal glue is NEVER used
- Hinges: in Japanese paper with natural, vegetal glue, or synthetic glue
What are the risks with displaying drawings in albums?
Cut or folded
Pages rubbing together
Risk of tearing
Wrong hydrothermal conditions > warping or buckling
Animal glue, iron-gall ink > acidic environment
Risks of insects and micro-organisms infestations
How does the Intrinsic nature of paper affect paper?
Acidic ink can corrode paper
What is UVA?
o UVA radiation is shone on drawing with UVA lamps
o Some materials glow
o Filter is put in front of camera that filters UVA light
What are some imaging techniques?
-Raking light
-Transmitted light
-Magnification check
How were artworks displayed in early modern period?
Albums
Mounts
Other ways, not as common:
Folders
Large paintings can be put in tube-rolls
Chests of drawers: designed for drawing storage
Put in cardboard boxes made from non-acidic material
What is beta radiography?
Using beta radiation/particles you can see internal structure of paper
Beta source on one side and x-ray film on other side.
What is infrared photography?
used for digital [SLR= Single-lens-reflex] cameras can detect wavelengths up to 1000 nm
o uses special film to record images, printed like normal photographs for study
o narrow range of wavelengths, > used in infrared photography limits the pigments that can be penetrated.
What are some non-visible techniques?
UVA
Infrared photography
Infrared reflectography
Beta radiography
Why are imaging techniques used?
- Key step in care and conservation of artworks
You can see: - Visible light
- Nonvisible radiation
- Electromagnetic spectrum
What are some outside factors that can destroy paper drawings?
Fire
Floods
What are some Sources and Risks of Degradation on paper?
-Sunlight/Light
-Humidity
-Mold
-Insects
-Intrinsic nature of paper
What is foxing?
When mold creates dots of rusty brown on paper
What are the characteristics of a standard modern mount?
- Passe-partout
- The edges are still protected
- Easy to remove and look at the back
- Being able to remove the drawing is an important part when examination
- Non-acidic material – non-acidic glue
- The drawing remains intact
How does sunlight/light affect paper?
o Yellowing of surfaces
o Light degrades cellulose
o Yellowed paper cannot be reversed
o Monitoring light can reduce yellowing
o Lux – measure of light, how intense it is
Lux recommendations
Sensitive paper – 50 – 100 lux
Light level (lux) x time (hours) = exposure (lux hours)
How does humidity affect paper?
o Humidity is absorbed into paper – makes it fragile/change shape
What is raking light?
o Work is illuminated form one side only, at an oblique angle in relation to its surface
o Highlights textures
o Makes imperfects more visible
What is infrared reflectography?
is used for short-wave infrared (= SWIR) cameras that can detect wavelengths longer than 1000 nm
o Can record a wider range of wavelengths > greater penetration of different colours
o provides more information
What are different kinds of mounts?
o Mariette Mount
Blue paper/cardboard
Outlined with thin gold line
o Early modern mounts
On cardboard/paper
Acidic glue makes entire drawing start to yellow
o Canvas used for mounts
Provides solidity and rigidity
Makes drawing look more like painting
Used in 18th and 19th century
Larger drawings are more easily stored when pasted to canvas – can be rolled up
Sensitive to climate/humidity
* Canvas retracts when humid – changes paper
o Wood
Lignin in wood is acidic
Provides rigidity
Difficult to remove
- Standard modern mount
How does insects affect paper?
o Ex. Silverfish
o Eats paper and particularly glue
o Damage is irreversible
What is the history of mounts?
o First recorded in early 17th century in France – makes it way to England and the Netherlands
o 19th century reaches Italy
What are the characteristics of mounts?
o No risk of tearing – easy to store – easy to decorate
o Removing drawing from mount is delicate and dangerous
o Acidic glue used to paste down drawing makes entire drawing start to yellow
What are some historical landmarks for albums?
Hartmann Schedel (1440 – 1514) – Germany
Antonio Badile – Italy
Put on blue paper sheets
Giorgio Vasari’s album
Put in album with paper frames that were decorated
What is a standard modern mount?
Way of mounting according to picture
passe-partout
What is transmitted light?
o Gives information about structure
o Shines light through drawing
o Thinner areas appear lighter
o Thicker areas appear darker
Ex. Can show chain lines in paper
