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Treatment; 06 Jun 2013; The surface of the wall-painting is stable and would benefit from a light cleaning. The painting has a surround of modern plaster that is sound and stable. There are a few small cracks; these are stable but require filling and retouching. Following initial work and testing, it was also decided with the curator to remove the discoloured varnish and to reduce, smooth and re-paint the plaster-surround and old plaster fills.; Stone, Wall Paintings, Mosaics

Reason: Loan
Description: The wall-painting and plaster surround were cleaned with Smoke Sponge. The surface of the wall-painting was cleaned with saliva on cotton swabs. Acetone on cotton swabs was used to remove the yellowed varnish and the paint from the old plaster fills and surround. The waxy drips were mechanically reduced under microscope with a scalpel; it was not possible to remove these with solvents. The plaster-surround and, where necessary, the old plaster fills were carefully reduced mechanically with a scalpel to reveal the full extent of the original surface. These fills were subsequently resurfaced with Microballoons in 20% w/v Paraloid B72 in acetone. Microballoons were also used to cap small vulnerable areas around the edges of the wall-painting and to fill the open cracks. These fills were retouched with Cryla acrylic paints to match the colour scheme of the painting. The plaster-surround was smoothed with sandpaper and repainted with a water-based emulsion.
Details: Treatment