Study of Cleaning Methods on Medieval Plasterwork

Abstract

Gypsum has been used in the elaboration of architectural plaster coatings frequently, among which stand out the medieval plasterwork. This kind of decorations present serious conservation problems such as repolychromed or whitewashed among others. These problems hide and damage the original polychromy causing the final loss of the original color. Currently, this is joined with the scarcity studies on specific cleaning treatments for these kinds of alterations. Therefore, this proyect presents a revision of treatments as many physicals methods as chemical methods, for instance the use of tools like scalpel, or the application of poultices and gels made of complex polysaccharides, acrylic acids or cellulose ethers, and the corresponding treatment tests on simulated material. The results obtained allow us to establish that the use of gels prepared from complex polysaccharides and cellulose ethers, applied them with solvents such as water, acetone and alcohol, they are effective for cleaning animal glue temper repoliychromed plaster coatings.