A study of water soluble oil paint in 20thC paintings

Dr Aviva Burnstock

painting by Jasper Johns
Jasper Johns Triptych 1964

 

Conservators often report problems surface cleaning unvarnished paintings made in oil media using spit/water. A study examines individual works that exhibit this phenomena, including paintings by Jasper Johns and Robyn Denny made in the 1960s. The aim is to characterise aspects of paint manufacture and composition that could account for the water solubility of aged oil paints.