mouldiness on pastel... what is to be done?
Doris Terris
I attended a talk given by a framer who's specialty was conservation of
artwork for museums. His recommedation for hanging artwork was not to
hang it on outside walls. (That is inside the house, but not to use the
outer walls.) The reason being that the temperature fluctuates too much.
DT
Le Saint wrote:
>
> Today a woman came back to me with a pastel portrait I had done some
> time ago. it had several stains on it. apparently it was mouldiness. I
> brushed it off with a painbrush, but I am afraid that it will not keep
> it from coming back.
> She said that she had other pastels at her place and it had never
> happened before... However, the portrait was the only one to be placed
> on the first floor. apparently it is a 90 years old house, and it does
> get damp downstairs in the summer.
> should the portrait be quite simply placed in a dry room, which would
> certainly make them unhappy since they obviously want to keep it where
> they had hung it in the first place; or can it remain there and
> something could be done to prevent it from happening again?
> the pastel is not fixed, I wonder if fixative my prevent that? is there
> something specific that could be sprayed on the pastel to prevent it
> from happening?
> the picture framer suggested placing something behind the frame on the
> wall that would absorb moisture. would that do?
>
> I wonder if there is anyone out there who has encountered the same
> problem and who has found a solution.
> thanking you in advance for your help.
> Jean-François Le Saint
> --
> les...@chez.com
> http://www.chez.com/lesaint/