VIS Sample 1

This sample was collected from the blue robe of the kneeling woman after a cleaning test was performed to remove the degraded surface coating. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as two to three layers of blue paint containing ultramarine (lapis lazuli) with small additions of lead white (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 2

This sample was collected from the pink section of the robe worn by the kneeling woman after removal of the degraded surface coating. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as two layers of red/pink paint containing vermillion, red lake, and lead white (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 3

This sample was collected from the heavily overpainted face of the child in the bottom right corner. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as scattered remaining fragments of the original flesh paint. The thin, uppermost glaze was later confirmed to be unoriginal restoration paint (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 4

This sample was collected from the pink section of the robe worn by the kneeling woman after removal of the degraded surface coating. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as two to three layers of paint; the light yellow paint may be the underlying flesh paint of the woman's back while the uppermost pink paint corresponds to the drapery (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 5

This sample was collected from the elbow of the kneeling woman before removal of the discolored overpaint. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as three layers of paint; the two paint layers directly atop the ground consist of lead white, vermillion, red lake, and naples yellow and represent the original flesh tones, while the uppermost layers was later confirmed to be unoriginal restoration paint (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 6

This sample was collected from the elbow of the kneeling woman before removal of the discolored overpaint. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as multiple layers of paint, indicating that the contour of the elbow underwent several changes during the painting process. The uppermost yellow paint layer was later confirmed to be unoriginal restoration paint (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 7

This sample was collected from the elbow of a female figure standing in the background after the removal of the discolored overpaint and surface coating. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as one to two layers of paint containing lead white, vermillion, red lake, and earth colors (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 8

This sample was collected from the heavily overpainted sky from the distant horizon. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as fragments of the original blue paint containing lead white and ultramarine (lapis lazuli). The thick, green-yellow paint layer was later confirmed to be unoriginal restoration paint (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 9

This sample was collected from King Saul's red cloak before the removal of the discolored surface coating. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as one layer of red paint (containing vermillion, red lake, and earth colors) followed by a thin layer of a degraded surface coating (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 10

This sample was collected from the leg of one of the background soldiers before the removal of the discolored surface coating. The red-brown ground can be seen as well as two layers of paint; the dark colored layer represents the tiled floor depicted in the painting while the red-yellow layer corresponds to the figure's leg. The thin, uppermost layer represents the degraded surface coating (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 11

This sample was collected from the heavily overpainted hand of the kneeling woman in the bottom right corner. The red-brown ground can be seen (appearing damaged and rather fragmented) as well as scattered remaining fragments of the original paint layers corresponding to flesh tones of the hand (although compositional adjustments were likely made during the painting process). The thin, uppermost yellow-brown glaze was later confirmed to be unoriginal restoration paint (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 12

This sample was collected from the heavily overpainted background near the bottom right corner. The red-brown ground can be seen (appearing damaged and rather fragmented) as well as a thin layer of red paint followed by a thick layer of blue-black overpaint (visible light/100x magnification).

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

VIS Sample 13

This sample was collected from an area in the tiled floor where a pentimento (also called pentimenti) became visible after removal of the degraded surface coating. The red-brown ground can be seen followed by three paint layers; the first corresponds to the initial lay-in of the tiled floor, the second to the initial position of the soldier's foot, and the third to the tiled floor that is now visible in the composition (visible light/100x magnification). Pentimenti are original changes by the artist(s) and can become visible over time as oil paint layers become more transparent with age.

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2014-01-16

Unframing

Since the completion of the 1950's restoration campaign, the painting has hung along the south wall of the Reading Room in Falvey Library.

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Date: 2013-09-01

Preparing the Workspace

Professional art handlers from Atelier Art Services assisted project conservators during the de-installation process. The painting together with the wooden stretcher weighs around 500 lbs. and measures approximately 12 by 20 ft. so multiple individuals are required to safely move the artwork. A temporary caged fence was built to allow visitors to visible access to the project during off-work hours.

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2013-09-01

Temporary Batten System

It was important for conservators to be able to access both the front and back of the painting throughout the duration of the treatment. Four temporary wooden battens were constructed that safely supported the painting in an upright position against the East wall of the Reading Room. The construction was designed to specifically allow for temporary access to the painting's surface, enabling conservators to remove the front of each batten when it was deemed necessary. Pieces of soft Ethafoam were also used to protect the face of the painting from the battens.

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Date: 2013-09-01

Artdaily article

<a href="http://artdaily.com/news/66144/Historic-Pietro-da-Cortona-painting-the-focus-of-collaborative-restoration-project-at-Villanova-University#.UoEQnvlJN15" target="_blank">Click here to view the article</a>

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Date: 2013-09-06

Examination and Condition Assessment

Prior to conducting treatment, conservators always perform a thorough examination and assessment of an artworks construction and condition. The support is composed of two large sections of plain-weave canvas (with a horizontal seam running through the center). At some point during a previous restoration campaign the original fabric support was completely lined or adhered to an additional canvas, presumably to aid in the repair of structurally compromised areas (e.g. planar deformations, tears, etc.). Finally, strips of canvas were adhered along all four edges of the canvas to provide additional strength to the tattered tacking margins.

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2013-09-11

Poorly Repaired Tears

Old tears in the canvas had re-opened and subsequently covered with various adhesives and overpaint. Here you can see the planar deformation caused by one tear running through the legs of King Saul.

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2013-09-11

Overpainted Child

Shown here is a detail of the small child in the lower right corner. Unfortunately past cleaning attempts utilized solvents/cleaning methods that caused damage to the original paint layers. As a result, a significant amount of overpaint was hastily applied over remaining areas of original paint throughout the child's face and torso.

timeline view   simple view
Date: 2013-09-11