Re-envisioning criteria for documentation of plaster artist models in museum collections

In the nineteenth century, plaster artist models were an intermediary step in the sculpting process. Since they feature complex methods of construction, a variety of materials, and were used in different ways, the classification and documentation of these objects in museum collections is often complicated. This paper proposes criteria to use in the study of plaster artist models, developed in the context of an ongoing research project about the Swiss sculptor Vincenzo Vela (1820-1891). The method presented here allows models to be considered within a suitable historical and technical context, reflecting their material and physical characteristics, as well as their role and importance in the sculpting proces

Treating Smalt: A Preliminary SEM-EDX Study of the Effects of Aqueous-based Alkaline Conservation Treatments on Smalt in Wall Paintings

Smalt is a blue cobalt-coloured glass pigment used in European wall paintings from the early Renaissance period that became a popular choice for artists due to its unique tone, availability, and ve..