Skip to main content

The Formation of Calcium Fatty Acid Salts in Oil Paint: Two Case Studies

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Metal Soaps in Art

Abstract

Two case studies of calcium fatty acid salts in oil paint are presented. The first is a nineteenth-century oil on canvas painting, and the second is a decoratively painted ceiling. In both cases, the calcium soaps have formed in the lower layers of the paint systems and are associated with significant delamination and paint loss. The results of analysis of samples from the two works using FTIR, SEM-EDX, Raman, PLM, and Py-GC-MS are presented. The components of the paint and ground involved in the soap formation, the conditions that may have led to their formation, and the treatment strategies that were chosen are described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In one area, on a flat, vertical surface of a hexagonal coffer, the plaster was found to be composed of gypsum.

References

  • Béland M (2014) D’après Le Titien. Au Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec Cap-aux-Diamants 116:50–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Binnie N, Baker W, Moffatt E, Veal M-A, Helwig K, Poulin J (2017, in press) Investigation of paint instability and conservation requirements for decorative auditorium and library ceilings. In: Powers of ten – architectural paint research conference papers, postprints of the 6th international architectural paint research conference, New York, 15–17 Mar 2017. Archetype Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bio-Rad Sadtler (2017) IR – Lubricant Additives 1. Accessed through Bio-Rad KnowItAll® Informatics System, vibrational spectroscopy edition. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc, Philadelphia. Spectra consulted: LA1X 80, 1088, 1819 and 1828

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira ESB, Boon JJ, Stampanoni M, Marone F (2011) Study of the mechanism of formation of calcium soaps in an early 20th-century easel painting with correlative 2D and 3D microscopy. Preprints of 16th triennial ICOM-CC conference, Lisbon, pp 1604–1608

    Google Scholar 

  • FHBRO Statement of Significance-100 Sussex Drive, NRC Laboratories (2016) http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=4030&pid=0. Accessed 16 Aug 2016

  • Halikia I, Soumpoulakis L, Christodoulou E, Prattis D (2001) Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate by isothermal methods of analysis. Eur J Mineral Process Environ Prot 1(2):89–102

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moffatt E, Salmon A, Poulin J, Fox A, Hay J (2015) Characterization of varnishes on nineteenth-century Canadian furniture. J Can Assoc Conserv 40:3–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer DC (2002) 100 Sussex Drive, The Temple of Science. A concise story of the building which was the National Research Laboratories. National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, pp 3–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble P, Boon JJ (2007) Metal soap degradation of oil paintings: aggregates, increased transparency and efflorescence. AIC PSG Postprints 19:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Sproatt H, Rolph E (1929) Sussex, original specifications, July 1929. Selection of pages from resource document provided by the National Research Council of Canada, Administrative Services and Property Management Branch, Ottawa, pp 86, 87, 126, 187

    Google Scholar 

  • Vézina R (1975) Théophile Hamel, Peintre national (1817–1870), Tome I. Éditions Élysée, Ottawa, p 214

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kate Helwig .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Crown

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Helwig, K. et al. (2019). The Formation of Calcium Fatty Acid Salts in Oil Paint: Two Case Studies. In: Casadio, F., et al. Metal Soaps in Art. Cultural Heritage Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90617-1_17

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics