The bachelor’s thesis addresses the conservation-restoration treatment of the wooden polychrome sculpture, Risen Christ, from the collection of the Posavski muzej Brežice, which dates back to the 18th century. The thesis focuses on three major topics: documentation, consolidation of the paint layer, and cleaning (surface cleaning and removal of surface coating).
In the first part, I described the statue and its art-historical period. Most of it is dedicated to the condition assessment and documentation. Damages are also shown graphically. The most probable reasons for their deterioration are stated. I described multiple previous treatments on the statue which are based on the examination, photography in visible and ultraviolet light, and stratigraphic analyses.
The cleavage of the paint layer which is separated from the wooden support to such an extent that it was endangered the most critical damage on the statue. We searched for the most suitable material for the consolidation of the paint layers and narrowed the set of suitable materials. On the surface, we tested cold fish glue and acrylic dispersion Medium for consolidation (Lascaux). In the end, we used both materials for consolidation according to the need.
Lastly, we faced the removal of the darkened yellow coating of unknown composition. Based on the information, the water solubility of the coating, we decided to remove it using water methods. We tested a variety of buffer solutions according to the methodology established by Richard Wolbers. We successfully removed the coating with a citrate buffer (citric acid, NaOH) with a pH value of 5.5, gelled with cellulose ether Klucel G.
The bachelor’s thesis ends with the proposal for further conservation-restoration procedures.
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