Ever since artists have started using wooden panels as support of their paintings it`s instability has been causing problems. Throughout centuries artists and woodworkers have been aiming to counteract the movement of the support, and as a result the cradle – a rigid wooden structure attached to the panel back was invented. For more than two centuries cradling seemed to be the perfect solution and was a customary method employed all over Europe. Today the disastrous effect of the excessive restraint the cradle exerts on the panel is apparent. It results in splitting of the panels, peeling off the paint layer and paint loss. Presented in the article are the results of measurements of surface of cradled painted panel examined by Atos – the optical scanner. The measurement was performed of the existing cradle related distortion of the surface. It demonstrated that is possible to monitor the state of deterioration of artifacts by using the optical scanner. Translated by Aleksandra Trochimowicz
Parkietaż – drewniana konstrukcja przymocowana do odwrocia obrazu, zapobiegająca ruchom desek podłoża – został wypracowany w toku kilkusetletniej praktyki stolarzy i artystów i wydawał się odpowiednią metodą stabilizacji podłoża malarskiego. Obecnie jednak zauważa się jego negatywny wpływ – hamuje on pracę podłoża obrazu, co skutkuje pękaniem i odkształceniami drewnianych tablic oraz uszkodzeniami warstwy malarskiej. Określenie tego wpływu ma istotne znaczenie dla skutecznej konserwacji obrazów z parkietażem. Do badań wytypowano 53 obrazy zabytkowe z parkietażem. Określono stan ich zachowania oraz warunki przechowywania. Następnie za pomocą skanera optycznego zmierzono odkształcenia 10 możliwie jednorodnych obrazów oraz tablic modelowych, wykonanych na wzór tablic zabytkowych, przed i po zabiegu postarzania mikroklimatycznego, oddającego warunki przechowywania obiektów zabytkowych. Uzyskane wyniki potwierdziły skuteczność parkietaży. Po ich założeniu tablice powracały do swojego pierwotnego kształtu, z biegiem czasu ulegały jednak postępującej destrukcji. Rezultaty badania pozwoliły na sformułowanie zaleceń konserwatorskich dla obrazów z parkietażem.
EN
Cradle – a wooden structure, fixed to a reverse of a painting and preventing unwanted movement of wooden panels – has been developed in the course of many centuries’ work of carpenters and artists. As such, it seemed an appropriate method of stabilising the painting support. In contemporary research, however, some negative impact of cradle has been noticed – it hampers the work of the support, leading to cracks and deformation of wooden panels and causing damage to the paint layer. Assessment of such impact is essential for effective preservation of cradled paintings. 53 historic cradled paintings were selected for a research project. Their preservation status and storage conditions were defined first. Subsequently, using an optical scanner, distortion levels of 10 possibly uniform works were measured, along with model panels – based on original panels – before and after the process of microclimatic ageing which reflected the storage conditions of historic paintings. The research results confirmed the effectiveness of a cradle. After applying a cradle, the panels would return to their original shapes, although they also underwent gradual destruction over time. The results allowed to formulate a set of art-preservation recommendations applying to cradled works.
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