May 10, 2016, Ongoing Altarpiece restoration (full size gallery)
Jim Heimbach took these 10 pictures of the ongoing restoration of the Altarpiece. Our lead conservator Cleo Mullins was onsite. Today’s work focused was on the central panel.
The work on the Central panel involves:
1. Cleaning – Clean to remove layers of overpaint with solvents.
2. Consolidation -Any original flaking paint will be consolidated as cleaning progresses.
3. Protective coating – After cleaning and consolidation are completed, apply a protective coating a Acryloid B-72 to the painted surface.
4. Paint losses -Fill paint losses, cracks, and low areas a water soluble putty, and inpaint losses to match the surrounding extant paint.
5. Repaint large areas of the upper part of the central panel.
6. Gold scrollwork -The gold scrollwork decoration on the pinnacles will be restored by comparing the two panels and copying the corresponding elements. Missing areas of gold will be in painted with titanium coated mica gold-toned powders.
The tablets are in her studio for repair and restoratino.
Last week Russell Bernabo began the work on the framework which involves these steps:
1. Structural stabilization/repair to any framework elements that are loose or otherwise unstable.
2. Consolidation of all surfaces that are prone to further disintegration.
3. Application of an appropriate isolating layer – to separate historic materials from new work.
4. Cracks – Filling and other appropriate repair to cracks in framework.
5. Losses, chips, dents, scrapes, gouges, and other damage to the molding profiles – filling and other appropriate compensation for these issues.
6. Front and interior framework surfaces – Removal non-original paint layers. Application of a multi -layer painted finish that attempts to capture the spirit of the original gilded surface, including mica powder and various mediums at the conservator’s discretion. For all exterior framework surfaces, application of a painted surface that blends with the white wall.