Lincoln Memorial, North/South Mural Samples, 10/30/92
Weibers R. 1992. Lincoln Memorial, North/South Mural Samples, 10/30/92. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
This report details the results of an examination of the samples removed from the murals at the Lincoln Memorial. The report includes a set of photomicrographs, infrared spectra obtained from the samples, and the color measurement data documenting the color shifts in some of the paints. The report found that both murals are of essentially identical construction; both are comprised of what appears to be an emulsion paint binding system for the priming and decorative materials. Additionally, both murals apparently were unvarnished originally. Subsequent weathering and/or cleaning seems to have severely disrupted the surface of the mural surfaces, and have caused soluble salts from substrate materials to move to, and be deposited on, the mural surface. At some point, a clear coating or varnish of an oil, or oil-modified composition, was applied to the mural surface. There is evidence that retouching exists as well, primarily associated with the "seam" areas, and that the retouching medium is an oil paint. The present extreme color shifts noted for certain areas of design or paint type, appear to be surface phenomena only: that is, where color has shifted, it generally has shifted to a lighter appearance. This lightening appears to be due to a combination of affects: both a lack of saturation of the present restoration varnish or clear coating, and the accumulation and consolidation of salts and normal grime constituents on the mural surface have militated this visual change in appearance.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Weibers, Richard
- Date of Issue
- 1992-10-30
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- NAMA , NCR
- Keywords
- chromochronology, lincoln memorial, mural, varnish
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 006441: Lincoln Memorial - Res. 332