P R O C E E D I N G S Proceedings of a Symposium at the The Structural Conservation of Panel Paintings (original) (raw)
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The conservation of panel paintings and related objects
Until the early 17th century almost all portable paintings were created on wood supports, including masterpieces by famous painters, ranging from Giotto to Dürer to Rembrandt. The structural conservation of these paintings requires specific knowledge and skills as the supports are susceptible to damage caused by unstable environmental conditions. Unfortunately, past structural interventions often caused significant damage due to insufficient knowledge of the behaviour of the wood panels, glue and paint layers. Over the last fifty years, the field has developed treatment strategies based on interdisciplinary collaboration and on the knowledge of specialist conservators. Most current conservation protocols rely on empirical knowledge of conservators and are not necessarily based on a scientific understanding of the nature and behaviour of wood and paint layers. In order to move the field forward, it is imperative to strengthen scientific research into the production methods, ageing and future behaviour of panel paintings, being an intricate interplay between different materials. A deeper understanding of the processes that adversely affect panel paintings over time will contribute to the improved care and conservation of these artworks. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam brought together a group of experts from different disciplines to recommend specific areas in the field that would benefit from systematic research. The experts concluded that targeted interdisciplinary research projects are key to understanding the behaviour of panel paintings and help conservators make better informed decisions. Research into chemical and physical properties of wood, glue and paint layers should be combined with an evaluation of past and current conservation treatments. Research should also consider the history of the object, studio practice, conservation history and thoughts on long-term impact of treatments.Over the next seven to ten years key research topics should include: Hydromechanical properties of ageing wood in panels; Interlaminar stresses and fractures mechanics, also affecting the paint layers; Loss of adhesion among the paint layers; Adhesives with appropriate chemical and physical properties; and Non-destructive testing and development of theoretical models. Successful projects encourage close collaboration between conservators and (conservation) scientists, as each discipline brings a unique perspective to the discussion. This collaboration would include the review of existing literature, the development of a database with population studies, and the establishment of a calibration system between laboratories. Given the growing need for skilled conservators with a good scientific background, it is imperative that outcomes are widely shared with the conservation community. Wide dissemination can only be achieved with the support of national and international funding organisations, e.g. in the framework of the European Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage. Strengthened collaboration among international stakeholders, concerned with the conservation of panel paintings, is vital to the advancement of the field. Existing programmes in a number of countries offer a useful basis, such as the Getty Panel Paintings Initiative and the NWO-programme Science4Arts. Museums, conservation institutes, cultural heritage institutions and universities must play an important role in promoting best practices, knowledge dissemination, and education. These organizations must take the lead to establish an international network of knowledge centres with open access policies that will stimulate knowledge transfer.
Contribution of mechanical engineering to the conservation of panel paintings : the case of
2013
The mechanical response of the wooden support of Mona Lisa to the action of the frame has been modeled using finite elements and compared to observations by optical techniques. The risk of propagation of the existing crack, estimated through the calculation of an elastic energy release rate, was found negligible. Introduction The application of wood science and engineering principle to improve the conservation of high-value paintings is a challenging task. A study on the wooden support of the world-famous painting of Mona Lisa, partly published in a book (Mohen et al. 2006), has initiated a cooperative research among French and Italian teams. Mona Lisa painting has been well preserved although it has been subjected to a few accidents during its 500 years of history. It is made of a single wood piece, inserted in a frame applying few constraints, and has been damaged by an ancient and seemingly wellstabilised crack (Figure 1). It can serve as a typical case for this category of woode...
This paper focuses on the structural treatment of a 15th-century Spanish panel painting from Su- ermondt-Ludwig-Museum Aachen, depicting St John the Evangelist Drinking from the Poisoned Chalice. It outlines the options for treatment and the decision-making process. The structural treat- ment consisted of four parts: enhancing the sta- bility of the panel and adjusting the curvature by fixing two wooden crossbars to the reverse of the panel; filling in the losses in the wood structure, providing structural stability to the panel to com- bat a tendency to compress; rebuilding the right edge of the support; creating an insert for the larger missing section of the support in the lower left corner. Treatment aimed to be minimalistic and to introduce as few new materials as possible. Retreat- ability became a key word in the decision-making process.
Technique and Technology of Creating Wooden Panels in the 17th Century in the Netherlands The use of ancient carpentry techniques to make a panel painting for a technological copy, 2023
A 17th-century panel painting is a complex work consisting of many layers, each of which affects its durability and reaction to climatic conditions. This paper focuses on the technology and technique of creating wooden panels in the Netherlands in the 17th century. During this period, wood, especially oak, played a key role in the production of panels, frames, and stretchers. The analysis of the production history of panels reveals changes in the dominant painting medium - from wood to canvas. Despite the popularity of canvas, wooden panels were still common, especially in still-life paintings. Craftsmen specializing in the production of panels collaborated with artists to create high-quality bases for paintings. Craft guilds controlled production, introducing regulations aimed at maintaining high standards. Oak, as the dominant raw material, was subjected to a process of felling, sawing, and seasoning. The import of oak wood, especially from Gdańsk, played a key role in the production of panels. The characteristic properties of oak wood, such as annual rings, affected its durability and stability. The seasoning process was crucial for maintaining the wood's properties, eliminating excess moisture, and increasing its durability. This work analyzes the complexity of the process of creating wooden panels in the 17th century, bringing closer the relationship between artists and craftsmen, as well as the impact of the type of wood and technological processes on the final product.
Studies on wood consolidation and completing gaps in panel paintings
2013
This paper presents a method for consolidating and completing the missing surfaces of linden wood panels of old paintings. The artworks suffer from various cracks, separation and large losses of wood. To this purpose, the interventions must be compatible with the structural components of the painting and not affect the aesthetics of the artifacts. For the intervention is was used traditional fillings of sawdust, binders, resin and natural beeswax. The study presents some experiments conducted with these fillers.
Most developments in the structural conservation of canvas paintings since the Greenwich Lining Conference in 1974 are discussed, but the review is not intended as a complete historical survey. Attention is focused on the impact of the principles of minimalism on conservation practice, and the results of research into the mechanical aspects of structural treatments are summarised, particularly regarding lining and moisture/flattening processes.
Innovative Approaches for the Re-Integration of Fifteenth-Century Spanish Panel Paintings
6th International Meeting on Retouching of Cultural Heritage. RECH6
The Suermondt-Ludwig Museum (Aachen) holds five Spanish fifteenth-century panel paintings in their collection. The five panels are all fragments, likely removed from their original settings at the turn of the nineteenth century during the upheaval of the Napoleonic Wars and sold on the art market after extensive restoration. Three of these five panels have been already treated at SRAL. The additional two will undergo a full conservation campaign in the coming year carried out in collaboration with conservation students from the University of Amsterdam and conservation training programmes in Spain. A treatment protocol was devised to ensure a systematic and sympathetic treatment, including reintegration. This provided key skill development for the trainee conservators. The removal of non-original surface materials revealed overcleaned and severely damaged surfaces. The integration of these surfaces required an innovative approach to return a sense of authenticity to the artworks,...