RESEARCH INTO THE STABILITY AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF PICTURE VARNISHES
Abstract of the lecture
Date: the 2nd of April 2012
Considerable progress has been made in recent years in research into the properties of picture varnishes. The degradation, effects of stabilizing additives and the optical properties have been studied. Traditional, natural resin varnishes, primarily based on dammar or mastic, degrade rapidly, leading to yellowing, cracking, loss of gloss and transparency, and loss of solubility. Removal of such degraded varnishes can be risky for the paint surface. Dammar varnish may be stabilized with a hindered amine light stabilizer, but only in the absence of ultraviolet radiation. Research into the properties of the many materials used for varnishing paintings has elucidated their optical differences, and revealed that these differences are governed largely by molecular weight. The research has led to the introduction of synthetic low molecular weight resins and stabilizing additives, which offer painting conservators stable alternatives to the traditional, rapidly degrading varnishes.
Lecturer: E. René de la Rie, Scientific Research Department, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Public concerned: conservators, curators, scientists
Length: 3 hours (9:30 to 12:30 PM)
Place: Inp, 2 rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris, France
Price: 65 €
Contact: laetitia.letendard@inp.fr