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Overall workspace in the NRC auditorium. Engineered scaffolding was installed to access the ceiling panels. 

Overall image before treatment of panel chosen for prototype treatment. 

Photo © Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute

Angled view illustrating vulnerable hanging paint flakes

Paint was dramatically lifting away from the plaster substrate. There was already significant loss at the start of the project. 

Photo © Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute

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Workspace on scaffold platform. Gina Garcia, contract conservator pictured here. 

Detail of lifting paint on red border

Same detail of red border with some facing tissue applied with gelatin for further support during consolidation

Red border after facing tissue has been applied. Consolidation was completed through facing tissue using Lascaux Medium for consolidation and diluted Plextol B500. 

Detail of red border during cleaning 

Detail of solid green border during cleaning. This light green was found to be more sensitive and only a subtle change was safely possible during cleaning. The brown-red molding below was even more sensitive and was left untreated. 

Cleaning test area on textured green border. The thick, discolored varnish was successfully removed using solvent gels. 

Border during cleaning

Center of the panel after facing tissue has been applied. 

BEVA D8 and Plextol 500 were applied to the back of larger flakes supported by facing tissue. Following, these flakes gently set down with a heated spatula. 

Photo © Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute

Center of the panel after paint has been re-adhered and most of the facing tissue removed with water. 

Detail before loss compensation. The decoration in the center of the panel was more sensitive to solvents and did not have as thick of a varnish application. Aqueous chelating solutions were used to mildly clean the central motif. 

Detail during inpainting. The background texture was recreated by building up multiple layers using Golden QoR paints. 

Same after inpainting background and leaves

Overall image of leaf after inpainting

Here Gina and I are holding up tracing paper to make a stencil of missing elements repeated elsewhere on the panel. 

Photo © Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute

During loss compensation with tracings transferred in pencil onto exposed plaster. 

During loss compensation with some larger elements blocked in. 

Detail before inpainting

During inpainting with first layer applied

During inpainting. Patent gold and acrylic size was used to compensate the gilded surfaces. 

Detail before loss compensation

Detail during loss compensation. 

Detail of central motif after treatment

Photo © Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute

Before treatment

 Photo © Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute

Prototype panel after treatment

Photo © Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute 

Prototype panel after treatment in context with adjacent untreated panels

Photo © Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute