The Tucson citizen., 1902-08-11
PRESERVED BY WAX
FOUR HISTORIC PAINTINGS IN THE
NATIONAL CAPITOL.

showed signs of Dissolution -- 40
Artists Curious Blundcr.
1t is a curious fact that the same
combination Of chemicals which pre-
served ia Il perfect state for over 800
years the remains and shrouds Of kinS
Edward |. OF England have also been
used TO preserve four of the great his
tOrical paintings perpetuatng scenes
In the foundation and establishment Of
this government.
These -four paintings occupy perhaps
the most conspicuous place for obser-
walton IN the nation. They are the
Nork of Colonel John Trnmhun and
hang on the eastern wall OF the rotun.
da Of the capitol
The paintings were pat IN place in
1894 under the supervision Of the artist
himself. but not without much hcsita.
ton and objections on his part because
OF the dampness of the walls and air In
the rotunda at that time. The fears OF
the artist were proved TO be well
founded, for four years later the
changes on the surface Of the paintings
ttNhiIt FS attAiNhA thHA NSa'S''Fo
passed resolution authorizing their
removal from the walls OF the rotunda
by Colonel Trumbull for inspection and
remedy II possible. Ii WAS al this
point that Colonel Trumbulfs knowi.
edge Of tie preseryatlYe chemical com
pound was drawn on.
Ia Il letier to congress, dated Dec. q,
1895, Colonel Irumbull explains In de-
tail bis treatment OF the paintings al
that time and au inspection now of
these four pictures shows that they
are In n perfect state Of presfrf alton
both as 10 brightness Of color aud con
dillon OF canvas.
In the letter referred 10 Colonel
Truubull says: IAN 81 the paintings
were taken down, refnos cd frain thelr
frames. taken Of from tire paneis over
which they were strained. refuos I'd 10
n dry. warm room and there separate
~ aud carefully examined The 'nHie.
rial hieh foftus he bssis ~ iae fsa !tss
lnex ~ q iiueu cloth t4ns" strength
aud texture ARE very similar io these
In ihe sa,gaiiant &aile af a tblT 81 var
The substances etnployea Tn forming
syrotsv surface fer the sssist sogct iseF
With the coaoss oils esc fofu = saff5
cseut pruicxtloM for the fsce ~ fl3e @s "a
te$. tnt the bs ck Fp5nmifss bare aT'i e.
tst,s4~l Ia tile ds3sseriuas effects q Ga gnp
air. TAe ertet of this is FIRST sccn in
the form 81 mltIew II was ib8s "a alf Ii
DREADED. ard siae examination shaved
fasi miitIsw VI. airendy cusnu3%nex 8
aud 10 aa eafeHt whleh rendered 4
ira nifess shal 9ae consinna ntv Of tie
sane exposure for few years SenFsF
would have accomplished ,be eoTnpgste
decomposition 81 rostlng og the c@r-
vas aud tie consequent destruction ~
tie paintings
Cc,@utsel TFumlsgH then explained lsoss
b. nr*t thoroughly dried tle canSa&es
I'D prepared them fug the Esss@cs' $
live Ou iiss point be continues Il
had isa rgassA that few years ago @oaIe
az The rnsinrut chemists 81 France had
exmmInsxi wjth great care sorns cf iIae
ancient mumns}ps uf Egypt Will 3
sssw 70 aNcertsIniug fl>e n@tnr" ~ The
pubsta uce s,upioteti hy lhs efnha liners
which The lsp.e 81 So many sgcs had
prov ,.a fo possess the power "f protect
luc frv1a dnra Il sullsfa nee either" lSe
81 rcrislaablc as the human lsosiy Thts
examination had proved that. after iile
npullru ti.su nf Ilquid a~rhanum TO the
cavities az thc head and ioty. the
Whole bad been wrapped carefully in
many envelopes or liza nslaces cf linen
prepared with wax. TIE committee OF
chemists ticCldet. further after car"
fui examination and analysis of The
hleroglyphic paintings VI ith which III"
ezlssnga. etc. are covered. that the col
nr~ etfploye,I and still retaining their
vivid brightness bad also t'een pre-,
pared aud applied with the same sub
stance. -
i also know that toward the close
og the last century the Antiquarian
Society Of England had been permitted
to open and examine the stone coffin
deposited in one Of the vaults Of West
minister abbey and said TO contain the
body of King Edward l.. who died in
July. 1901 On removing the stone
lid OF the coffin It's contents were found
to be closely enseloped In strong lin
en- cloth. waved. Within this envelope
were found splendid robes OF silk en-
ricGed with various ornaments cover
ing the body. which WAS found to be
entire and 20 have been wrapped care
fully In all It's parts. even to each sep
arate finger, IN handagts OF fine linen
which had been dipped in melted wax.
aud not onIy vas tbs body not decom'
posed. but the various parts or the
dress. such as n scarlet satin mantle
and scarlet lissss Of ,..s.!s sarss9sA XL1'tn
was placed over the face, were IN per-
feet preservation. even in their colors'"
Colonel Trumbull then states that
with this knowledge. he melted com
mon beeswax and mixsl with an equal
quantity of oil OF turpentine. which
mixture was applied hot with brushes
10 the backs of the paintings and aft
crward rubbed in with hot irons until
the cloth was perfectly saturated. The