Conservation of Cezanne’s studio objects : characterisation of painting materials

Authors : Alain Colombini, Jean-Marc Vallet and Ely Bruno (Musée des Tapisseries, Aix-en-Provence)

Poster presented for the 14^th Triennal Meeting of ICOM-Committee for Conservation (La Hague, 12-16 september 2005)

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Abstract :

In 2001, a scientific study on the objects of the studio which may have belonged to the artist was carried out at Paul Cezanne's last studio "l'Atelier des Lauves", in Aix-en-Provence. Two main reasons guided this woork : to improve the conservation conditions of the objects on display in the studio, and to determine the nature of pigments and media deposits, painting droplets and blobs which are mainly present on palettes and several objects which may have belonged to the artist.

Pigments on each studied object show some degradation. The nature of pigments and media from the three palettes was successfully characterized. Their compatibility with all pigments used by Paul Cézanne has been verified as well as results published from various laboratories on numerous Cézanne masterpieces.

The study of the repartition of colours has brought some significant informations on the knowledge of the artist technique.

The work was then focused on the study of degradation processes affecting some pigments and the study of the interactions between the dirt layer and underlying painting materials in order to improve both the display environment of objects and their durability.

Page mise à jour le 4 octobre 2007.

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