The Role of Paint Analysis in the Historic Interior

Abstract

AbstractAre the historic houses that are open to the public displayed in an objective manner? In spite of the research carried out on their contents, it appears that the basis for the decoration of their walls is often less thorough. Unless the reasons for the scheme of decoration are made clear, it may be assumed that the selected and applied colours relate to the earlier appearance of the room.An account is given of the techniques that exist for the accurate investigation of early painted surfaces. The advantages of paint analysis are discussed and reasons suggested for the apparent reluctance of some to adopt them. The obsolete process of carrying out a ‘paint scrape’ is shown to be of no value in the accurate determination of an early paint colour. Whilst there is nothing wrong with decoration for its own sake, the results should not be passed off as the result of analysis and research.