Miscellaneous

15 June 1949Alison Frantz to B. H. Hill:

The method we used on the frescoes of St. Spyridon was as follows:

1. The frescoes are dusted off carefully with a brush and no other fixing is used.

2. Unbleached muslin is torn into strips 5 to 7 cms. wide and a little longer than the width or length of the area to be removed. These strips are dipped into a hot solution of soluble glue. ( was used here too. We needed some experiment to find the right proportion of glue and water but once fixed it was quite simple). These strips are applied to the fresco in horizontal rows being careful to smooth out every single air bubble. The strips should be absolutely contiguous but should not overlap. On top of thislayer, a second layer is laid vertically in the same manner, although not quite so much care is needed to eliminate the air bubbles since this layer is not in direct contact with the fresco. A third layer isapplied once more horizontally.

3. The whole thing is then left to dry completely. When it isabsolutely dry the fresco is removed by gently pulling the muslin away from the wall (by the loose ends which were left free at the sides of the fresco). Only the thinnest layer of plaster may be seen in comes off. In fact it is so thin that the picture may be seen in reverse on the back of the muslin and outlines of it are left on the wall.

4. A wooden frame the size of the fresco is fitted around the back, or fresco side, and plaster is poured in. In the case of a large fresco it is necessary to re-enforce this with brass rods.

5. When the plaster has hardened and dried the whole thing is turned right side up, that is with the muslin side up, and warm (not hot) water poured over it. This gradually dissolves the glue and the muslin can be peeled off. This is a long process and should not be hurried by having the water too hot. We lost one face through impatience. When all threelayers of muslin have been peeled off and the fresco dried a spray of vinylite can be added to preserve the colors. The fresco is then ready to be exhibited or stored.

You will note that I described the removal of frescoes and not mosaics, which I have never removed. It seems to me that the process should be somewhat al though there would possibly have to be several modifications. For one thing the glue would have to be cut be thicker and stronger and I suppose the mosaic will have to be cut away from the wall rather than pulled. It might be too, that you could take away enough of the wall to provide most of the backing which would be used permanently, and this could be re-enforced with plaster before removing the muslin. It might also be that you could use hotter water for mosaic than for fresco since the colors would not be so perishable.