Salve Regina

Project Manager and Lead Conservator: project executed while working with John Canning Co.

Mural—Artist: Giambettino Cignaroli, Oil on Canvas, Marouflage, 1735

Condition Assessment:

Mural was located in a beautiful Gilded Age Mansion named Ochre Court in “Mansion Row” Newport. The mansion was gifted to the local University and currently has become the administrative building of the sprawling University.

The mural is an original Giambettino Cignaroli created in 1735. Cignaroli was a prolific Venetian artist of the 16th century. Upon the demolition of the Venetian palace, the mural was removed from its original location and found its way to the United States. It was placed in the Ballroom of the Ochre Court where it underwent several alterations to its original design. A substantial part of the design was added to make the mural fit the space more properly and elements were added to the composition altering the original. Over the years the mural has slowly deteriorated and numerous repairs were executed due to flaking paint, problems related to water infiltration, failure of the adhesive layers and general lack of maintenance.

Treatment Methodology:

The mural was surface cleaned, the yellowed varnish removed. Once the varnish was completely removed it became clearly apparent the extent of interventions the mural underwent of the centuries. All of the flaking paint was stabilized, any areas of canvas delamination was reattached to the ceiling, and all areas of loss were infilled. An isolating vanish was applied to further consolidate and isolate the original from any new work done on its surface. Finally, the mural was inpainted to match original work and a final varnish was applied to make the finish homogenous aesthetically.

Before photo of mural

Mapping

Flaking paint

Picture ouline original mural and its additional work

Cleaning test

Canvas reattachment

Mural during varnish removal

Mural during varnish removal

Detail during varnish removal

Detail after varnsih removal and infilling

Mural after infilling

Mural after

“All work accomplished follows the Secretary of the Interior”s “Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties” and the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC) standards