Gels in Conservation: Cleaning Oil Paint Surfaces

Date: 25-27 October 2018

Venue: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi

Organisers:
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi
Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg (SRAL), Maastricht, The Netherlands

Instructors:
Kate Seymour, Head of Conservation, SRAL
Anil Dwivedi, IGNCA
Dr. Satish Pandey, NMI

The three day workshop will be divided between theory in the form of lectures and hands-on practical
sessions. Demonstrations of current use of Gels in Conservation will provide a link between the theoretical
and practical knowledge that is required for an understanding of this topic. The aim is to provide the
practicing conservator sufficient skills to be able to choose between different gelled solvent systems for the
removal of varnishes, dirt, overpaint and other non-original matter from the surface of aged oil paint safely
without damaging the original layers.

Theoretical lectures, each morning, will be open to a larger group of participants, while the afternoon
practical sessions will have fewer numbers to ensure more active participation.

Program
25 October
Morning
Introduction to Cleaning Principles for Oil Paintings
Introduction to Gels in Conservation: Part 1 Aqueous Systems & Part 2 Solvent Systems

Afternoon
Practical sessions

26 October
Morning
Case Studies
Kate Seymour: Gels used at SRAL for cleaning oil paintings
Guest Leturer - (suggestion Aditya Kanth)

Afternoon
Practical sessions

27 October
Morning
Problems of Cleaning with Gels - Residues and Overcleaning
Questions and Answers

Afternoon
Practical sessions

Prerequisite for all Participants: Basic Knowledge of Chemistry (literature can be provided)

Venue & Delegates

Auditorium: Space for a group of 30 delegates for the lectures (note more are welcome).
Workshop room: space for 15-20 practicing conservators
Equipment
The practical room must have good lights but a darker space for observation under UV
light would be handy. I would like access to a stereo microscope or a digital microscope
linked to a computer.
Good Ventilation - as we will be working with solvents extraction points should be
provided.
Tables without rimmed edges for the delegates. They can work in small groups of 3-4 so
each group will need a table.
Chairs.
Flip-over chart or white board.
Small hand tools etc - cotton wool, sticks, tissues, glass jars with screw lids, labels, pens,
pencils, notebooks

Materials
See additional document - not much of the dry materials I can bring if necessary but it
would be best if you ordered in India.

I cannot bring solvents so these would need to be ordered on-site. We would need:
Ethanol, Isopropanol, Acetone, Benzyl Alcohol, Shellsol D40, Shellsol 100, Xylene, White
Spirits 17% aromatic content as a basic set along with Demineralised water