The Priory of the Immaculate Conception
- Jan 16
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Project Manager and Lead Conservator: project executed while working with John Canning Co.
Mural Restoration and Conservation & Decorative Painting
Condition Assessment:
The Priory of the Immaculate Conception also known as The Dominican House of Studies is located in Washington D.C. and was established for the intellectual and spiritual formation of Dominican friars (Order of Preachers) in the US. The Conservation and Restoration of the main Chapel was executed in stages.
The main elaborately carved wood altar was stripped and a new finish reapplied with delicate accents of gold leaf. The murals of the Sanctuary Wall were conserved and the background pattern was reinstated to more closely resemble the original design. Fourteen panel paintings depicting the story of St. Dominique were also conserved and returned to its original glory.
Sanctuary Wall
canvas reattachment. Applying pressure while injected adhesive is allowed to dry
Left side of sanctuary wall after application of stencil design
sanctuary wall before conservation treatment
Santuary wall after conservation and restoration treatment
antuary wall after conservation and restoration treatment
The murals on the sanctuary wall and side panels were oil on canvas. Both were mounted onto a structural support. The main altar murals were mounted on a plaster substrate while the side panels were mounted onto the glass windows of the chapel. The varnish removal of the side panels proved to be tricky, but once the right combination of chemicals were found, the varnish layer was able to be removed using a combination of chemical and mechanical removal techniques.
Side wall Panels
Before Conservation treatment
After conservation treatment
Before Conservation treatment
After conservation treatment
Before conservation treatment
after conservation treatment
Before conservation treatment
After conservation treatment
Exposure windows were also opened up on the sanctuary wall in order to find the original design of the background for the murals. The original background was painted over several times over the years. The idea for the background was to restore the area and not conserve, so more liberties were taken in the creation of the new design. The final design established became a combination of the older design elements with some new ones to create a more overall cohesive design for the space.
Treatment Methodology:
Tests were performed in order to ascertain the best methodology for the vanish removal for the murals. Exposure windows were opened to allow us to understand the original designs and details of the decorative elements present within the sanctuary wall. Some new designs were created and incorporated further expanding the original design over the entirety of the wall. Areas of damage were stabilized, cleaned and re-adhered to the wall surfaces. All areas of loss were infilled mimicking the original textures and an isolating vanish was applied to further consolidate and isolate the original work from any new work done on its surface. Finally, the murals were inpainted to match original work
“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
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