Study on application methods of three adhesives used in the consolidation of contemporary paintings

Abstract

Consolidation of contemporary paintings is a complicated and delicate process, due mainly to the potential of accidental modification of the surface. Conservators sometimes reach limits in addressing these problems because of the difficulty of applying adhesives with a paintbrush. In an attempt to provide a practical and useful solution to this problem, the authors have experimented with different adhesives for consolidation of contemporary paintings and evaluated different application methods. All of these tests were developed on works with poorly bound paint layers. The study on combined methods of application was undertaken in order to compare the use of an ultrasonic atomizer with and without a low-pressure microtable. The study analyzed the deviation of colorimetric and gloss parameters in order to detect whether the surfaces of treated paintings suffer aesthetic variations that may interfere with the artists' intentions. Conclusions finally show that it is possible to sufficiently consolidate poorly bound paintings by using an aqueous adhesive in low concentration and an ultrasonic atomizer. The combination with a low-pressure microtable will depend on whether a specific or general action of the adhesive is needed.