Status

Completed filling and toning losses throughout the entire composition. Prepared silicone molds and wax-resin paste to impart texture in large areas of loss.

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Date: 2014-11-01

October 2014

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Date: 2014-11-01

2014-10 IMAGE

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Date: 2014-11-01

November 2014

Completed filling and toning losses throughout the entire composition. Prepared silicone molds and wax-resin paste to impart texture in large areas of loss.

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Date: 2014-11-03

Silicone Molds

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Date: 2014-11-07

Preparing the silicone molding material

A clear silicone casting material was prepared before applying the silicone to the surface of the painting.

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Date: 2014-11-07

Applying the Silicone

The silicone is applied in a thin layer over designated areas of the painting using a rubber roller and mylar. After a 24 hour period the silicone cures and can be carefully peeled away from the surface, providing a perfect reverse of craquelure patterns and brush strokes.

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Date: 2014-11-07

Status

Continued using silicone molds and wax-resin paste to impart texture in large areas of loss.

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Date: 2014-12-01

November 2014

Continued using silicone molds and wax-resin paste to impart texture in large areas of loss.

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Date: 2014-12-01

December 2014

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Date: 2014-12-03

2014-12 IMAGE

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Date: 2014-12-03

Wax-Resin Paste

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Date: 2014-12-07

Applying Wax-Resin Paste

A mixture of pigment, waxes, and resin are made into a soft paste, that can then be applied atop large areas of loss that have already been filled with Modostuc. Once the wax-resin has dried edges of the fill can be carefully cleaned using a scalpel (Pictured Here: Project interns Keara Teeter and Serena Vella)

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Date: 2014-12-07

Texturing Fills

The silicone mold is placed atop the wax-resin and locally applied heat is used to impart texture. Once the wax-resin has cooled, the silicone mold is peeled away revealing the textured fill beneath. (Pictured Here: Project intern Serena Vella)

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Date: 2014-12-07

Public Outreach

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Date: 2014-12-15

Visit from High School Students

Students from a local high school visited the painting to learn about traditional painting practices and the analytical techniques employed by the conservation team. In this image the students decided to "re-enact" the scene depicted in "The Triumph of David."

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Date: 2014-12-15

Philadelphia Inquirer Article

The Philadelphia article provides an in-depth summary of the project and the progress that the conservation team has made thus far:<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://articles.philly.com/2014-12-26/news/57398481_1_painting-chemistry-layers">Link</a>

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Date: 2014-12-15

Collections Care

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Date: 2014-12-23

Learning from the Ruspoli Collection

History students at Villanova were given access to the Ruspoli Collection, providing them with exciting opportunities for research and thesis studies.(Pictured Here: Villanova Student Alexandra Stump and Dr. Timothy McCall)

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Date: 2014-12-23

Status

Began retouching/inpainting small areas of loss as well as larger textured fills. Continued using silicone molds and wax-resin paste to impart texture in large areas of loss.

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Date: 2015-01-01