The Tucson citizen., 1902-07-28
PRESERVED BY WAX
-FOUR HISTORIC PAINTINGS IN THE
NATIONAL CAPITOL.

combination or chcmlcalS Wnlch pre-
served in a perfect state for over 300
wears the remains and shrouds OF Ming
Edward l. of England have also beeh
used to preserve four OF the great his
torical paintings perpetuating scenes
In the foundation and establishment OF
this government.
These four paintings occupy perhaps
the most conspicuous place for ooser-
walton in the nation, They are the
work of Colonel John Trumbull ana
hang on the eastern wall of the rotun-
da OF the capitol.
The paintings were put In place III
1894 under the supervision OF the artist
himself, but not without much heslta'
ton and objections on his part because
of the dampness of the walls and air in
the rotunda ut that time. The fears or
the artist were proved to be well
founded, for four years later the
changes on the surface Of the paintings
became so apparent that congress
passed a resolution authorizing their
removal from the walls OF the rotunda
by Colonel Trumbull for inspection and
remedy il possible. 1t was at this
point that Colonel Trumbulls knowl-
edge of the preservatiye chemical com
pound was drawn on.
In letter to congress, dated Dec. .,
1928. Colonel Trumbull explains In de-
tail his treatment OF the paintings at
that time, and an inspection now of
these four pictures shows that they
are in a perfect state Of preservation
both as to brightness Of color and con
dition OF canvas.
In the letter referred to Colonel
Trumbull says IAN OF the paintings
were taken down, removed from their
fra mes. taken of from the panels over
which they were strained removed TO
a dry. warm room and there separate
ly and carefully examined. The mate
rial which forms the basis OF the paint
inSs is a linen cloth whose strength
and texture are very similar to those
In the topgalIa ut sails OF ship OF war
The substances employed In forming
proper surface for the artist. together
with the colors, oils. etc, form a suffi-
vas. but the back remains bare and ex-
posed to the deleterious effects of lamp
air The effect Of this is frsf seen in
the form OF mildew. 1t was this which
I dreaded. and the examination show ed
| that mildew was already commenced
and to an extent which rendered 1t
/ ma hifest that the continuance OF the
same exposure for few years longer
would have accomplished the complete
decomposition or rotting OF the can
vas aud the consequent destruction of
the paintings"
Colonel TrumbuII then explained how
be- first thoroughly dried the canvases
! aHd prepared them for the preserva-
tive. On this point he continues: Il
| bad learned that a few years ago some
| of the eminent chemists Of France had
| examined with great care some OF the
ancient mummies OF Egypt with
view to ascerta lining the nature OF the
sabstan nee employed by the emba liners
| which the lapse OF so many ages had
proved to possess the power of protect
! ing frcm decay a substance otherwise
so perisbable Is the human body. This
examination had proved that. after the
| application Of liquid asphaltum TO the
cavities of the head and body. the
whole had been wrapped carefully In
many envelopes or bandages of linen
prepared with wax. The committee OF
I chemists decided further. after a care.
ful examination and analysis of the
hierogiyphic paintings with which the
| castings, etc, are covered. that the col
! ors employed and still retaining their
vivid brightness had also been pre-
pared and applied with the same sub
stance.
Il also know that toward the close
OF the last century the Antiquarian
Society Of England had been permitted
to open and examine the stone coffin
deposited 10 one OF the vaults Of West
minister abbey and said to contain the
body OF King Edward l.. who died in
July. 1907. On removing the stone
lid OF the coffin its contents were found
to be closely enveloped In a strong lin
en cloth, waxed. Within this envelope
were found splendid robes OF silk en-
rched with various ornaments cover
ing the body, which was found to be
entire and to have been wrapped care
fully in all its parts. even to each sep
arate finger, in bandages Of fine linen
which had been dipped in melted wax,
and not only was the body not decom-
posed, but the various parts OF the
dress. sslch as n scarlet satin mantle
aud scarlet piece of sarsenet which
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 mixed with an equal
quantity Of oil OF turpentine. which
mixture was applied hot with brushes
to the backs Of the paintings and aft
erward rubbed In with hot irons until
the cloth was perfectly saturated. The
inches in the walls were backed with
cement and the paintings so placed
/ In them that air could circulate behind
the canvases. Spring doors were also