The use of gel systems for cleaning Carmen Ahedo Pino

(Paintings Conservator, IPCE-MECD, Spain)

water-and solvent-sensitive paintings

maria.ahedo@mecd.es

IAP and Tate

The Emmanuel Centre, London

gel systems can act as tailored issues

water-and solvent-sensitive paintings
cleaning tools for surface cleaning and film-
strategies
forming materials removal, as well as a method silicone materials in gel cleaning systems
for measuring surface pH and ionic strengh limitations

case studies, composition and properties

CS-1: DOORS OF AN ALTARPIECE CS-2: INTERIOR OF A STUDIO (CS-2.1 –painting–; CS-2.2 –frame–)
Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Ibdes, Spain; 16th century Museo del Romanticismo, Madrid, Spain; 19th century
Pietro Morone Manuel Cabral y Aguado Bejarano
Tüchlein paintings on canvas –glue size and oil– Oil on paper and cardboard –secondary support–
85,40 m2 –inner doors– 0,09 m2 –painting–

(d)
(a)
(a)

(b)

(b)
2 (e)
1
PLM
2
(c) 2

1
FLM
1. Binding media: linseed oil
2. Varnish-overpaint: linseed oil, rosin and
triterpenoid resins

FIGS. 6-10 (a) Interior of a Studio; cross-section samples of surface layers shown in OM (b) reflected light and (c)
ultraviolet light, 500x ; (d) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum and (e) gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
(GC-MS) chromatogram (images: IPCE).

(c)

(e)
chemical properties: pH and EC measurements
(d) 4
inform design of the cleaning system
3
2 PLM (b)
1 (c)
1-3. Binding media: linseed oil (a)
4. Varnish-overpaint: linseed oil and rosin resin
(a)
FIGS. 1-5 (a) 16th century tüchlein paintings, AutoCAD drawing –inner doors of the altarpiece–, left side –marked
in yellow–; (b) left side –central body and predella–; (c) Noli me tangere –predella, left side–, sampling site and (d)
cross-section sample of surface layers, optical microscopy (OM) reflected light, 100 x; (e) analysis with gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (images: IPCE).
FIGS. 11-13 (a) Agarose rigid hydrogel; (b) The Washing of the Feet –predella, right side–, agarose discs
on painting surface; (c) pH and EC handheld meters –Horiba® Laqua Twin– (images: IPCE).

addressing surface cleaning and materials removal

soil: pre-made agar gel –pieces– copper salts: semi-solid agar gel –brush–
silicone materials surface cleaning
agar rigid hydrogels
physical hydrophobic barrier
(a) (b)
(b)
components of formulations
moisture impregnation of layers
can be prevented
D4 versus D5:
work in situ limitations ?
different freezing points FIGS. 15-16 Surface cleaning: (a) The Annunciation –attic, left side–; (b) soil and copper salts removal (images: IPCE).

D4 D5
terpenoid resins and linseed oil removal
D4 D5
materials removal (a) (b)

Velvesil Plus polymeric

emulsion gels stabilizers

potencial damage and residues

FIG. 14 CS-1: Cyclometicone solvents used to create a
hydrophobic barrier –test performed at ca. 5-10 °C–. Note that
D5 is in a fluid state while D4 is frozen, due to the low
temperature in the workplace (images: IPCE).
can be avoided
FIGS. 17-18 (a) The Last Supper –predella, left side–, during cleaning ; (b) Interior of a Studio: cleaning test 14-17 , visible
and UV light details, photomicrographs at 10x. Details of test and formulations are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, pp. 357-358
(images: IPCE).

ongoing research
testing physical and chemical rigid hydrogels loaded with buffered solutions and microemulsions