Conserving the Cathedral's wall paintings

The Central Canvas

2009-04-01T04:02:00.007+08:00

The patch that was found on the front of the central canvas was very carefully removed. Solvent vapours were used to soften the glue and peel away the patch.

The huge hole then needed to be flattened and stabilised. A canvas insert was cut and installed into the hole to re-create the original texture and appearance. The edges of the tear were glued back together for strength. Any final small holes were filled from the back.

Picture: patch from behind

The canvas need to be lined with another layer of canvas to give it added strength. A synthetic canvas was prepared with a special heat set adhesive and hand lined to the canvas.

Picture: preparing the lining canvas with glue

The canvas was then re-stretched onto its original stretcher and the new patch was inpainted to match the original canvas.

This treatment was very successful. The central canvas now has as much of the original painting showing as possible. It is stable and the tear is no longer visible. The re-touching and damage should be almost invisible to anyone in the cathedral.

The final picture after treatment will be uploaded once the scaffolding comes down and a picture can be taken from below.

Retouching an angel

2009-03-11T00:00:00.004+09:00

Video of Matteo re-touching:

During the service, the conservators continue to work quietly so not to disturb anyone. It must be said that it is lovely to listen to the hymns each day while working.

step by step conservation of angel

2009-03-10T23:06:00.008+09:00

Finally the angel after completion

Re-touching almost there.

The losses and overpaint are filled to match the original texture and the fill is toned to make re-touching easier.

Half way - the left hand side has been very carefully stripped of overpaint. The right hand side has been completely lost. The choice was made to re-paint the face to closely match the original finish.

Before Treatment - The over painted angel

Interview with conservator about conservation of one angel.

2009-03-02T18:08:00.007+09:00

Video: Matteo talks about the re-touching process.

Video: Matteo Volonte talks about removing overpaint and uncovering the original angel beneath.

Uncovering the date

2009-03-02T17:02:00.001+09:00

Conservator Adam Godijn reveals the original date by removing the overpaint with solvents.

Overpainted Angel

2009-03-02T09:22:00.005+09:00

Overpainted Angel

Considerable re-painting was found in the main dome. One of the angel's faces was worst effected and appeared very crude in comparison to the originals. It was thought that the original face had been completely lost. However after investigation we found that in areas it was possible to remove the overpaint and reveal, save the original painting.

Week 2: cleaning angels

2009-03-01T10:07:00.006+09:00

Cleaning the dirt from an angels face after stabilising the paint layer. The white section of paint on the left is a paint loss which will later be inpainted.

This movie shows us the first stage of cleaning with a molecular sponge to remove any loosely bound surface dirt.

Week 2: in the main dome

2009-02-28T20:48:00.004+09:00

In the main dome we are facing extensive flaking of the paint layer, a heavy layer of surface soot and dirt, and a heavily overpainted surface. Our aim is to stabilise the paint layer, then clean it with molecular sponges, then an aqueous clean before removing overpaint, filling losses and cracks. Finally the damaged sections will be inpainted.

This movie is a quick view of the worksite and consolidation in process

Week 2: cleaning the painting

2009-02-28T20:39:00.005+09:00

Cleaning the painting - the beard is cleaned to half way down

Cleaning test 1

The painting before treatment. It has two large holes, large sections of non-original over paint, a huge rectangular patch and a heavy layer of surface dirt.

Week 2: Lowering the central painting

2009-02-28T15:07:00.006+09:00

Lowering the central canvas to ground level

Anna inspecting the back of the painting in the main dome.

Taking down the central painting from the dome

2009-02-28T14:26:00.007+09:00

Noel undoing the screws holding the painting in place

Paul Phillips loosening the central nut

Access to the central painting and main domed ceiling was achieved on Friday the 20th. The scaffolders transfered the weight of the chandelier to the scaffolding. It was all hands on deck to take the painting down. The painting was unscrewed, and wrapped up to protect it. It was lowered with 4 ropes, 2 for the weight, one safety and one guide.

Hierarch

2009-02-27T08:15:00.001+09:00

Anna, Melissa and Arek studying the painting before beginning a treatment.

Week 1 - Great Hierarchs, Iconostasis

2009-02-23T22:05:00.003+09:00

Image: this image shows a half clean, half dirty section of an icon. The cotton swab shows how much dirt is actually removed.

On the ground, work has almost been completed on the three Hierarchs. These were taken down, cleaned, some minor damages touched up. A protective semi-matt varnish was applied. Finally the glass was cleaned and they are now ready for installation.

Many of the paintings in the iconostasis have been taken down for conservation. These are in the process of being cleaned. It is expected that that the icons will be cleaned, stabilised and re-installed gradually over the next few weeks.

Week 1 - Panagia - Semi Dome

2009-02-23T21:48:00.008+09:00

Image: This image is showing a section of the wall paintings after a cleaning test

This week the team; Adam, Anna, Arek, Matteo, Melissa and Noel arrived from Sydney to begin work on the conservation of the paintings within the church.

The scaffolding was already up in the sanctuary and work was immediately started in stabilising the paint layer. The consolidation process in basic terms involves applying a conservation grade glue behind the paint flakes with a fine paint brush or syringe and laying them back into position.
The next stage was to clean the painting and tests began into how exactly to do this.

With time a significant layer of grime has accumulated, generally a smoke and dust mixture quite common in churches. The cleaning will be carried out in two parts, first dry cleaning with a molecular sponge to lift away the lightly adhered dirt. Secondly with a water based cleaning agent that removes the remaining dirt.

The tests have been very promising and the paint comes up quite beautifully. This coming week Noel and Matteo will be spend cleaning the paint surface, filling losses and re-touching damages.

Video: Paint layer consolidation

The Conservation Team

2009-02-16T05:36:00.000+09:00

The conservation team for this project is led by Adam Godijn and Arek Werstak. They are supported by Matteo Volonte, Noel Turner, Anna Diakowska-Czarnota* and Melissa Harvey*. This team has extensive experience in the conservation of wall paintings and icons on canvas and timber supports.

* Anna and Melissa will only work on paintings outside the Sanctuary.

Adam Godijn is Senior Paintings Conservator at ICS, and is experienced in managing large conservation projects. He has conserved paintings and frames for major government institutions around Australia including Australian Parliament House, National Library, National Portrait Gallery and the State Library of NSW.

Arek Werstak is a paintings conservator who has previously lived and worked in Greece for several years as a conservator. He has experience with the conservation of Greek Icons and wall paintings. Arek is also fluent in Greek. Arek has 30 years of conservation experience worldwide and has worked on many large wall painting projects. These have included the Childrens Chapel at St James’ King St, Sydney and the painted chancel at St Marks, Darling Point Sydney.

Matteo Volonte is a paintings conservator from Italy, who trained in Milan and has extensive experience on wall paintings and frescos. He is attributed with re-discovering important frescos beneath layers of plaster at the “Santa Maria Della Torre” in Sovere, Italy. He then spent several years revealing these frescos and conserving them.

Anna Diakowska-Czarnota has over 35 years experience in painting conservation on icons, panel paintings and canvas paintings. After teaching painting conservation in Poland she joined ICS and has worked in Australia for 20 years. Major projects have included the Kalgoorlie Boulder “Goatcher” stage curtain, the Childrens Chapel at St James’ King St Sydney and the restoration of the highly ornate interior of “Swifts” in Darling Point Sydney.

Melissa Harvey is a frames conservator and assistant paintings conservator, and has been involved in the arts world for the past 12 years.

Noel Turner has worked as a paintings and frames conservator with almost 12 years of paintings conservation training and experience.

Adam Godijn
Senior Paintings Conservator
International Conservation Services

This blog

2009-02-14T09:53:00.000+09:00

International Conservation Services have set up this blog to help keep the members of the Hellenic Community of Western Australia informed about the conservation work we are undertaking on the wall paintings in their Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helene in Perth.

We will be posting progress reports on our work, along with details of the conservation work we are undertaking. We hope that this blog will provide a community record of the conservation works to this collection of wall paintings in the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helene.

David West
Executive Director
International Conservation Services

The Project

2009-02-14T09:50:00.001+09:00

The Hellenic Community of WA’s Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helene in Perth contains a number of significant wall paintings. Unfortunately, these paintings have suffered damage and deterioration due to water penetration through the roof and walls of the building, and subsequent moisture retention in the building walls.
The building was designed by architects Oldham, Boas & Ednie-Brown, and constructed in 1935-37 in the InterWar Byzantine style. It is listed on the WA State Register of Heritage Places.

The Panagia (half dome) and Pantocrator (main dome) paintings are painted onto fibrous plaster board fixed to a timber sub-frame. The central element of the Pantocrator is an oil painting on canvas, as are a number of other important wall paintings through the Cathedral.

Following correction of the problems with water penetration, the Hellenic Community of WA have obtained funds to conserve the wall paintings. During February and March 2009, International Conservation Services will be undertaking a programme of conservation works including cleaning and stabilisation of all areas, repair of physical damage to the paintings on canvas, and inpainting of areas of paint loss.

Julian Bickersteth
Managing Director
International Conservation Services