MCI Project Summaries 2008 - Smithsonian Institution

MCI 6181 Painting: Cornelia Otis Skinner by Gladys Rockmore Davis
MCI Staff: Jia-sun Tsang, Mel J. Wachowiak, Judy Watson
The goal of this project was to identify the surface coating on this painting to
assist in the conservation treatment. The dark color of the coating, either from intended
tinting or natural aging, had significant visual impact on the sitter or limited the
conservation treatments. The dark surface coating was soluble in mild solvent. The
solubility behavior and type of solvent it dissolved in indicated that the coating had not
aged extensively. The darkened coating could have been from tinting or from the native
color of coating material itself.
In addition to visual examination with light microscopy and higher magnification
examination of the morphology of paint cross-sections made by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM), SEM-EDS was used to profile the inorganic elements in the coating.
An additional paint sample that included a coating layer was subjected to 3-D
microscope examination under the visible and ultra-violet light.
Cornelia Otis Skinner by Glayds Rockmore, During Treatment,
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
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