Skip to main content

The Mechanical Behaviour and Environmental Response of Paintings to Three Types of Lining Treatment

Christina Young and Paul Ackroyd
Technical Bulletin Volume 22, 2001

Abstract

In the 19th century, glue-paste lining was carried out to pre-empt the deterioration of still-sound canvases by making them stiffer and less hygroscopic. Wax-resin lining was developed from the mid-19th century with the latter aim in mind. A mid-20th-century painting by an unknown artist was cut up and lined by four methods comprising glue-paste with lined canvas, wax-resin with lined canvas, and BEVA with linen canvas and polyester sailcloth.

The biaxial tension was measured for all samples during three cycles of tensioning, as the relative humidity (RH) was changed in steps and over time. The results are discussed in detail. The wax-resin lining was unaffected by RH change, while the BEVA/sailcloth, BEVA/linen, and glue-paste linings were progressively more sensitive.

Keywords 

canvas, lining (process), mechanical properties, paintings, relative humidity

Download article

The Mechanical Behaviour and Environmental Response of Paintings to Three Types of Lining Treatment, Christina Young and Paul Ackroyd (PDF 8.78MB)

To cite this article we suggest using

Young, C., Ackroyd, P. 'The Mechanical Behaviour and Environmental Response of Paintings to Three Types of Lining Treatment'. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 22, pp 85–104.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/technical-bulletin/young_ackroyd2001

Problems opening files? Get Adobe Reader [External link]