No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Treatment and Analysis of a Paint Chip from “Water Lilies” a Fire Damaged Monet
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
Abstract
A museum fire in 1958 severely damaged a Monet “Water Lilies” (1916-1926) painting that was on display. The surface of the painting is very dark with areas of blistering and charring. Over the years, traditional techniques have been found to be ineffective at removal of the soot and char from the surface. The painting, which is now in the care of the New York University (NYU) Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, was the subject of a study to determine if atomic oxygen treatment could remove the soot and char without damaging the fragile painting underneath. For test purposes, a small chip of paint was removed from the edge of the painting by a conservator at NYU and supplied to NASA Glenn Research Center for atomic oxygen treatment and analysis. The diffuse spectral reflectance, at three locations on the paint chip, was monitored at intervals during the atomic oxygen treatment process. Photo documentation of the chip during treatment was also performed. The color contrast was calculated from the spectral reflectance data as a function of treatment duration. Results of the testing indicated that the contrast improved as a result of the treatment, and the differentiation of colors on the surface was significantly improved. Soot and char could be removed without visibly affecting the gross surface features such as impasto areas. These results indicate the feasibility for the treatment of the “Water Lilies” painting.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002
References
REFERENCES
1.
Banks, B., Rutledge, S
Brady, J and Merrow, J “Atomic Oxygen Effects on Materials”, NASA/SDIO Space Environmental Effects on Materials Workshop, (NASA Conference Publication 3035, Hampton, VA, 1988) pp. 197–239.Google Scholar
2.
Banks, B.A.
Rutledge, S.K. “Low Earth Orbital Atomic Oxygen Simulation for Materials Duability Evaluation”, Proceedings of the Fourth European Symposium on Spacecraft Materials in the Space Environment, (CERT, Toulouse, France, 1988), pp 371–92.Google Scholar
3.
Banks, B.A.
Rutledge, S.K.
Paulsen, P.E. and Stueber, T.J. “Simulation of Low Earth Orbital Atomic Oxygen Interaction with Materials by Means of an Oxygen Ion Beam”, 18th Annual Symposium on Applied Vacuum Science and Technology, (1989), Nasa TM-101971.Google Scholar
4.
Stidham, C.S.
Stueber, T.J.
Banks, B.A.
Dever, J.A.
Rutledge, S.K. “Low Earth Orbital Atomic Oxygen Environmental Simulation Facility for Space Materials Evaluation”, 38th International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition, (Anaheim, CA, 1993), NASA TM-106128.Google Scholar
5.
Rutledge, S., Banks, B
Forkapa, M
Stueber, T
Sechkar, E and Malinowski, K “Atomic Oxygen Treatment as a Method of Recovering Smoke-Damaged Paintings”, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
39, (2000), pp 65–74.Google Scholar
6.
Rutledge, S.K.
Banks, B.A.
Chichernea, V.A. “Recovery of a Charred Painting Using Atomic Oxygen Treatment”, Proceedings of the 12th Triennial Meeting of the International Committee for Conservation, ICOM, (Lyon, France, 1999), pp 330–335.Google Scholar
7.
Rutledge, S.K.
Banks, B.A.
Chichernea, V.A. and Haytas, C.A. “Cleaning of Fire Damaged Watercolor and Textiles Using Atomic Oxygen”, 18th International Congress of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, IIC, (Melbourne, Australia, 2000), NASA TM-2000-210335.Google Scholar
8.
Koller, L.R.
Ultraviolet Radiation
2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1965) pp 6–7.Google Scholar