7 FACING PROCEDURE

Assured by the results of the preliminary tests we proceeded to the treatment of the painting. Loose paint chips trapped between the cleaved ground layer and the canvas were retrieved with tweezers, documented, and saved for reattachment. Sections of the painting were coated with a thin layer of Rhoplex N-580 using a no. 2 sable brush (fig. 4). The adhesive had a tendency to solidify as globules on the end of the brush during application. Therefore, periodic cleaning of the brush with acetone was necessary to remove the drying adhesive and avoid handling difficulties. Sections of the tengujo paper, varying in size according to the complexity of tenting, were prepared with feathered edges. Once the water phase of the Rhoplex N-580 dispersion had evaporated and the adhesive became a clear, shiny film, one end of the tissue was gently laid in contact with the adhesive-coated area. With the light pressure of a small hog-hair brush, the rest of the paper was adhered to the paint surface (fig. 5). During this procedure special care was taken to ensure that the facing conformed exactly to the tented and distorted paint layer. In the most damaged areas the tengujo sections were cut as small as 1 � 2 cm, but in the least damaged areas it was possible to adhere sections of 5 � 7 cm to the painting. The entire painting was faced in this manner, securing the fragile paint film without disruption.

Fig. 4. Application of Rhoplex N-580 to the surface of the painting

Fig. 5. Facing the painting with tengujo paper using a brush

Because of the brittle condition of the paint film, it was decided that a second facing layer should be applied for additional support and strength. Unfortunately, application of the pressure-sensitive adhesive in dispersion form to a small test area of the first facing layer resulted in absorption of the adhesive into the facing and loss of tacking strength. Instead, the earlier idea of applying the adhesive in the form of a precast film on the tissue was used. The Rhoplex N-580 was cast by brushing a thin, even layer of the adhesive onto a large sheet of silicone-release paper pinned to a flat surface. Once the water phase of the Rhoplex N-580 had evaporated, sections of the tengujo paper (approximately 20 � 20 cm) were attached to the tacky film by laying down one edge of the paper and slowly contacting the rest of the paper with a brush. The formation of creases was avoided during this step. The tengujo paper, now with a film of the pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side, was cut in sections larger than the first facing layer but varing in size according to the extent of planar distortion in a given area. The silicone-release paper was peeled away and these sections were then applied over the first layer, again closely following the surface distortions in the painting by means of gentle pressure with a brush (fig. 6).

Fig. 6. Schematic diagram of facing procedure using Rhoplex N-580 (1) Rhoplex N-580 applied to paint film. (2) Tengujo laid over pressure-sensitive adhesive. (3) Precast film of tengujo and Rhoplex N-580 applied over first facing layer. (4) Wax-resin layer applied for additional support.

With the paint and ground layers secured by facing, it was now necessary to remove the canvas support and return the paint layer to plane. Wax-resin in combination with heat was chosen to facilitate the task. A wax-resin facing system based on a facing procedure developed by Keck (1981) was used. Molten wax-resin (8 parts beeswax, 2 parts Ketone Resin N, and 1 part microcrystalline wax W445) was brushed onto the facing layer to a thickness of approximately 5 mm (fig. 6). This system had three functions. First, because the wax-resin conformed exactly to topographical distortions in the paint film, it provided additional support and stiffness. Second, the molten wax-resin would act as a plasticizer during manipulation of the paint film back to plane while on the hot table. And third, the wax-resin would be the adhesive to attach the transferred painting to its new support.

To properly secure the painting during removal of the stretcher and canvas, a sheet of Mylar (1 mil), cut larger than the outer dimensions of the faced painting, was laid over the wax-resin layer and attached with a warm tacking iron. The painting was then placed face down and the stretcher removed. To prevent movement of the painting during canvas removal, the edges of the Mylar sheet were pulled taut and secured to a smooth board against which the face of the painting rested.