The Amsterdam Wax-Resin Project (AWRP) at the department Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage of the University of Amsterdam (UvA-C&R) is preparing a publication on wax-resin lining. The project is supported by the Getty Foundation as part of its Conserving Canvas grant initiative. It will be published by Archetype Publications and will be available online in 2027.
Since 2019, AWRP has been contributing to the Conserving Canvas initiative through various activities such as advising on projects and organizing workshops on wax-resin lining including The Dutch Method Unfolded. It is now embarking on compiling a standard publication on the topic of wax-resin lining and the conservation of wax-resin lined paintings.
State of knowledge on wax-resin lining
Wax-resin lining is a treatment method initially developed to consolidate and strengthen paintings on canvas. It was invented in the first half of the 19th century in the Netherlands and has been used extensively by conservators throughout the world until the 1970s. Since then, use of the method has declined because of its known drawbacks which conflict with modern conservation ethics.
Today, on a world-wide scale, painting conservators increasingly report degradation phenomena in wax-resin lined paintings, such as planar distortions, failure and delamination of the lining support, or raised paint and paint loss. This raises questions on the potential impact of this invasive treatment for the conservation and long term-preservation of paintings, its effect on the appearance of paintings, the durability of existing wax resin linings, and appropriate methods for re-treatment. Furthermore, although the practice of wax-resin lining has significantly decreased since 1975, it may still be used while safer alternatives exist today.
Over the last decades conservation research has started to engage with wax-resin lining related issues. Since the start of the Conserving Canvas initiative in 2019, the state of knowledge on wax-resin lining has significantly grown. However, at this moment in time, we lack a full overview of the types of issues encountered. Furthermore, the exact level of knowledge is unclear, and information scattered or even inaccessible.
Scope
The publication aims to collect and disseminate critical knowledge needed for the conservation and preservation of wax-resin lined paintings. It also aims to present the current state of research and discuss the challenges faced with respect to conserving wax-resin lined paintings.
The anticipated chapters of the book are:
- the history of the wax-resin lining method (origin, dissemination, international developments, critical reception);
- the detrimental effects of the treatment on material, optical and mechanical properties of paintings;
- the longevity of wax-resin linings;
- the current approaches to the conservation of wax-resin lined paintings;
- the training and education of conservation specialists to approach conservation issues related to wax-resin lining.
Readership and dissemination
The publication is primarily targeted towards conservation specialists including teachers, students and established professionals. It also aims to be a resource for art historians, curators, museum professionals and other painting experts.
We expect that the publication will have a broad reach due to the vast numbers of canvas paintings housed in collections across the globe and the international spread of the wax-resin lining method.
To facilitate ready access to the information, the book will be made available online and free of charge (open access).