Encausto and Ganosis: Beeswax as Paint and Coating during the Roman Era and Its Applicability in Modern Art, Craft and Conservation

Abstract

Ethics in conservation and the relation between theoretical guidelines and their application in real life is the comprehensive subject of this study. Choices of materials in conservation, whether traditional or modern products are, or should be, preferred and issues regarding the basis on which such choices are, or should be, made are problems relating to the level of applicability of theoretical programmes in real life. The ancient techniques, encaustic painting and ganosis, are at focus and the materials used for such painting and coating have been studies. The principal material is beeswax, used in its natural, or raw state as paint, or transformed into saponified wax, i.e. Punic as, either as paint or as a surface coating. These techniques are related to Fayum portraits with Roman wall painting, and with Hellenistic and Roman polychrome statuary as a coating. The materials beewax and natron, are studied and described as well as the relation between these paints and preparations. Some pigments used during Antiquity, relevant in this study, are briefly descrubed. Ancient and modern interpretations of the terms encausto an ganosis have been studied. Issues concerning whether or not materials and techniques might be accepted in professional conservation and modern building construction are discussed. Experiments have been made with the intention of reconstructing these ancient materials and techniques and testing their applicability in modern environments, aiming at reducing negative factors for the environment and health . Finally, theories have been exposed to situations in real life, and the results are presented in six case studies. -- ICCROM