New Insights into the Cleaning of Paintings

ABSTRACT
Mecklenburg, Marion F., A. Elena Charola, and Robert J. Koestler, editors. New Insights into the Cleaning of Paintings: Proceedings
from the Cleaning 2010 International Conference, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia and Museum Conservation
Institute. Smithsonian Contributions to Museum Conservation, number 3, x + 243 pages, 142 figures, 22 tables, 2013.— The
present volume brings together the papers and posters presented at the “Cleaning 2010 International—New Insights into the
Cleaning of Paintings” conference that was held at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia in Spain, in collaboration with the
Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute. This was the first major international conference on this topic in two decades.
The 20 papers and 19 extended abstracts presented at the conference are included in this publication, grouped into four main
categories: Ethics, Aesthetics, Training, and Documentation; Traditional Media: Egg Tempera and Oil; Modern Paints; and
Cleaning Systems. Within each category, the papers and extended abstracts are grouped by the specific topic they address to
make it easier for the reader to find all related material in one section. A summary of panel discussions held at the end of the
conference has also been included. All papers and abstracts included in this publication have been peer reviewed. The aim of
the conference was to provide a knowledge exchange forum and to produce a publication that assembles the latest developments
in the various studies addressing the problems that affect paintings. These range from normal soiling to removal of
aged varnishes, from the effect of solvents on paints to the subsequent changes in their mechanical behavior. The cleaning
of unvarnished paintings is one of the most critical issues that was discussed. Finally, different cleaning techniques, such as
gels, soaps, enzymes, ionic liquids, and foams, as well as various dry methods and lasers, are discussed in various papers and
extended abstracts. Although the conference was organized in Spain, the United States contributed 21% of the contents, followed
by Spain and Italy, both with 16%; the United Kingdom and Germany, each with 9%; and Canada, the Netherlands,
and Portugal, all with 5%. The rest are individual contributions from Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, and Greece.
Cover images, from left to right: Figure 1 from García and Marín; Figure 1 from Cremonesi; and detail of Figure 1 from
Osmond and Carter.
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Compilation copyright © 2013 Smithsonian Institution
The preface and acknowledgments are in the public domain. The rights to all other text and images in this publication, including
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cleaning International Conference (2010 : Valencia, Spain)
New insights into the cleaning of paintings : proceedings from the Cleaning 2010 International Conference, Universidad
Politecnica de Valencia and Museum Conservation Institute / edited by Marion F. Mecklenburg, A. Elena Charola, and
Robert J. Koestler.
pages cm. — (Smithsonian contributions to museum conservation, ISSN 1949-2359 ; number 3)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Painting—Cleaning—Congresses. 2. Painting—Conservation and restoration—Congresses. I. Mecklenburg, Marion F.,
editor of compilation. II. Charola, A. Elena, editor of compilation. III. Koestler, Robert J. (Robert John), 1950– editor of
compilation. IV. Title.
ND1650.C43 2012
751.6’2--dc23
2012041342
ISSN: 1949-2359 (print); 1949-2367 (online)
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48–1992.