Cleaning with Beer!

Dr. Maartje Stols-Witlox, Programme Director at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), recently led a historical cleaning methods workshop as part of the Master Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, specialization in paintings. The workshop's core objective was to (re)construct historical cleaning recipes, offering students a multifaceted learning experience.

Focusing on the exploration of diverse alcohols, the workshop divided students into three groups, each responsible for beer, wine, or spirits. Each group meticulously formulated a working method, fostering collaboration and shared insights among participants. I and my colleague, Audrey Boivin collaborated to clean a painting with beer, wine, and spirits.

The chosen canvas for experimentation was a flea market painting of unknown origin, measuring 76.2 cm by 36.0 cm. Painted with oil on a 0.3 cm thick composite wood panel, this canvas had previously undergone cleaning, revealing a brighter color in treated areas. Intriguingly, these cleaned sections exhibited fluorescence under ultraviolet light, hinting at potential varnish exposure. The remaining surface raised a hypothesis of veiling due to brownish cigarette smoke residue. After testing, our test with the range of alcohols revealed interesting results in removing surface accretions.

In unraveling the layers of history through these hands-on experiments, the workshop not only enriched students' understanding of historical cleaning practices but also sparked a broader exploration of the mysteries concealed within aged artworks.

Various cleaning tests based on beer, wine, and spirits.