The Structural Conservation of Panel Paintings

the panel easily. This enclosure creates a volume of air that slows climatic

ex changes with the environment, thus facilitating stabilization. At the end

of the intervention, the support is protected actively by a brush applica-

tion based on Permethrin. The protection of the reverse is completed with

a mixture of beeswax (60%), paraffin (30%), and rosin (10%) applied with a

spatula to form a surface film.^11 This treatment can prevent new infesta-

tions and slowthe rate of air exchange with the environment.

From 1987 to 1988, the author was involved in the restoration of three

panel paintings from the Flemish school. These works by the painter

Herrimet de Bles (nicknamed “Il Civetta”) came from the Museum of

Capodimonte in Naples. Two of the paintings presented conservation

problems that also involved the wooden support. The following para-

graphs describe one of these works with regard to its construction char-

acteristics, its particular conservation problems, and the restoration

intervention to which the work had previously been subjected (Fig. 10).

Jesus and Saint Peter on the

Water by Herri met de Bles

T R  P P S: S C H 325

Figure 9
Domenico Beccafumi, The Coronation of the
Virgin. Back ofthe panel after attachment of
the framework for support and deformation
control.

Figure 10
Herri met de Bles, Jesus and Saint Peter on the
Water. Oil on panel, 26 3 37 cm. Museum of
Capodimonte, Naples. The state of preserva-
tion of the panel before restoration.