Starnina panel, the treatment of which was carried out in 1982, the condi-
tion is stable, and no new signs of cupping or flaking have been observed.^8
The conservator must always keep in mind where objects are to
be housed. In a climatically stable environment, even a heavy cradle will
have very little negative effect on a painting; consequently, it might be wiser
to leave well enough alone. Many paintings, however, must be returned to
environments that are not climate controlled. These paintings need ade-
quate freedom of movement, some form of moisture barrier (without
complex constructions), and protection from structural experiments. New
methods and ideas are constantly being developed, and though it is in the
nature of conservators to continually change, one sometimes cannot help
but wonder if is not better to stay with some of the structural conservation
methods that have proved their effectiveness over time, rather than con-
stantly expose panel paintings to experimental innovations.1 Mansonia altissima;the tree comes from the rain forests of Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.
The sapwood has characteritics similar to those of the heartwood; the heartwood, which is
slightly toxic, is most often used.
2 Vinavil NPC, Stella Bianca, is a nonionic dispersion of medium plasticized acetate emulsion in
water (see Materials and Suppliers).
3 General-purpose epoxy structural adhesive AW106 and hardener HV 953 (see Materials
and Suppliers).
4 Epoxy structural adhesive (carvable paste, wood) AV 1253 and HV 1253 (see Materials
and Suppliers).
5 Wolters has also supplied information—verbally and by demonstration—about this type of
mounting (Munich, 1956).
6 Lucite 2044 and 2045 are the Italian product names; in the United States they are also called
Elvacite. The adhesive 2044 is an n-butyl methacrylate, and 2045 is an isobutyl methacrylate.
Both are of high molecular weight. Acryloid B72, also known as Paraloid B72 in Europe, is an
ethyl methacrylate copolymer. (See Materials and Suppliers.)
7 Saran F.120 is a vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer. It was first introduced by
Richard Buck in 1961. After the flood, Sheldon Keck came to Florence and proposed a 30%
solution in methyl ethyl ketone as a moisture barrier. Saran F.220 was also used. (See Materials
and Suppliers.)
8 Both treatments were executed by Giovanni Marussich and Renzo Turchi.Acryloid B72, Rohm and Haas Co., Independence Mall Street, Philadelphia, PA 19105.
Araldite AV 1253/HV 1253 and AW 106/HV 953, Ciba-Geigy Corporation, 4917 Dawn Avenue,
East Lansing, MI 48823.
Elvacite, Du Pont Company, Polymer Products Dept., Methacrylate Products Group,
Wilmington, DE 19898.
Saran F.120 and F.220, Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, MI 48640.
Shellsol A, Shell Oil Company, P.O. Box 4320, Houston, TX 77210.
Vinavil NPC, Stella Bianca, Enichem Synthesis, Italy.Materials and Suppliers
Notes
314 Rothe and Marussich