Academic thesis

Claudia Spiegel: The Camaieu-Paintings in the abbey in the south wing of the monastery Ottobeuren. The problem of transformation of pigments on Secco-paintings. Back
Language: Original   -   Translation
Overview:  
 
Abstract: This thesis comprises the documentation and examination of the wall paintings of the southwestern and southeastern adjoining rooms of the ‘Kapellzimmer’ (‘chapel room’) and of the northern Antecammer (anteroom) in the abbey in the south wing of the monastery Ottobeuren. The paintings show large-scale brown discoloration which could be identified as pigment-transformations of the contained lead white to lead dioxide.
It could be confirmed that the existent indoor climate correlates with the heavy outdoor climate changes. Besides, water infiltrated in some rooms through the overlying garret which leads to cristallation of salts on the surface of the paintings.

The thesis further sums up the research regarding the transformation of lead white from the beginning of the 1970s. On the basis of this research, it was assumed that the transformation of lead white on the wall paintings at Ottobeuren is caused by the soiling of the lead-containing pigment and that this soiling has a catalytic effect on the brown discoloration.
But this assumption was not confirmed by the labaratory tests.
Finally, the thesis gives conceptual proposals for the handling of the analysed wall paintings and for a possible reconversion of the pigment-transformations.

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Keywords: Ottobeuren, transformation, lead white, lead dioxide, brown discoloration
Details:
  • academic institution: HAWK Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/ Holzminden/Göttingen
  • kind of theses:  Masterarbeit
  • main Tutor:  Prof. Dr. Henrik Schulz
  • assistant Tutor:  Jürgen Pursche
  • date:  2009
  • Language:  German
  • pages:  151
  • pictures:  78
 
Contact:
 
Claudia Spiegel
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