Hi,
I have a couple of questions about how to maintain an oil painting.
I read on this forum that a painting can be dusted a few times a year with a soft brush. Is there a particular type of brush that you would recommend for this?
Also, for an unvarnished oil painting, can you explain how grime becomes chemically bonded with the paint? I wasn’t able to find any information about how this process happens. Also, once the grime is bonded can it be removed?
Thank you for your help
Hi Brian, Thank you very much for your detailed response. I appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me!
I can’t remember the source, but apparently feather dusters are to be avoided. The little natural hooks on feathers used to lock together with their neigbours are not only abrasive, but can also catch on spurs, ridges and cracks in the paint.
Marc
Hi Marc, I am glad you added that. Thank you for letting me know
Overtime, the metal ions in grime will interact with the organic and inorganic components on the surface of the painting creating organo-metallic complexes. This takes place over time so periodic brushing the surface should help prevent this. This is more likely to happen when a work is unvarnished, but this is not a justification to varnish a painting when you intend a different aesthetic.
A simple Japanese Hake brush with soft goat hair is sufficient. Those with bigger budgets can purchase a badger hair brush for this purpose.
Panting conservators can usually remove chemically complexed surface grime by using combinations more complicated aqueous cleaning methods, usually involving chelation. This need to be done by a professional since there are bonds in certain pigments that can be broken if using a chelator with a high enough disassociation constant or if the concentration of the chelator is too high and the pigment is blown apart due to overly powerful osmotic strength. You asked.
