Evening star., 1950-05-12
Care Of Oil
= Paintings

'EuttUV NULC. hSCCHLIy tfLSTS
appeared in the Readers Clear
ing House letter directing q
Questioner to contact Mr.. Harold
F. Cross. conserUator and re-
Storer of paintings conSultdnt,
through the CorcorGn Gallery
of Art. to obtain his leafet on
cleaning and caring for oil
paintings. / hare received a
letter from Mr.. Cross and am
delighted to haze his permission
to print here the contents of his
leafet. an, sure it 10tU be of |
much interest to the many art
loUers in the RCH group.-B. c.
NOTES ON THE CARE OF OIL
PAINTINGS IN THE HOME.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is
often asked for information as to
materials that may be used and
measures that may be taken to
care for and preserve works of art |
in the home. Unfortunately, in SO
technical a field there is actually
little that can be undertaken by
an unframed person. Neverthe-
less, as an expression of its inter-
est and desire to be as helpful as
possible, the following notes have
been prepared in order to supply
what little information and guild
ance the gallery may properly give
on the subject.
To begin with, it cannot be over
emphasized that the most impor-
tant consideration in the treat
ment of all works of art is the
knowledge and experience of the
person who is to carry out the
work. There are no commercial
or other products that do not re-
quire this knowledge and expert
ence, and lacking them, the proper
tools and materials mean but little.
Quite evidently. therefore, the
gallery can make recommended
tions neither as to products nor
as to treatment measures. How
ever, it may call attention to the
brief and very superficial cleaning
procedures for use on oil paintings
suggested in the next paragraph,
which have been tried and found
satisfactory in museum labora-
tories, but the gallery can assume
no responsibility for their proper
carrying out or for their safety
and effectiveness in private hands.
Superficial dust and dirt can be
removed from thoroughly dry and
sound oil paintings by brushing
them lightly with absorbent cotton
or a soft brush, preferably with
camels hair brush. While any
pressure is being put upon the face
of the painting by the brushing,
the canvas must be firmly and
uniformly supported from the re-
verse. Both cotton and brush may
be used either dry or moistened
with gasoline-type cleaning
fluid, but it must be remembered
that such fluids are inf1ammable
and have to be used with appro-
pirate precautions.
Beyond the above no treatment
should be tried by inexperienced
persons. Paintings should never
be treated-either front or back
with soap. water, breadcrumbs,
erasers, raw potato. sliced onion or
oil of any kind. Some of these
may improve the appearance of a
painting temporarily. but all can
be harmful in unframed hands.
Paintings should always be
hung or stored so as to avoid ex-
tremes of dampness. dryness, and
temperature change. For the
ordinary steam or hot-air heated |
and non-air conditioned home in
the vicinity of Washington this |
means in practice that in summer
paintings are usually better off in |
the warmer, upper rooms, and in
winter. in the cooler rooms. They
should not be hung against damp |
walls or, If 1t can be at all /
avoided. In places where there are
apt to be frequent temperature
changes Of any magnitude. such
as near radiators and fireplaces
or windows that are continually
being opened and closed. Needless
10 say, paintings are COMPARE