Barbra Brady wrote:
>I have just received a poignant call.
>Maybe some of you remember hearing of a Chlorine spill, from a train, in
>Alberton, Montana recently. Well, a woman called me today, saying that in
>"neutralizing" things around her house, she has finally thought of her oil
>paintings. They are not valuable, more sentimental value. She has been working
>with a chemist on treating and testing other household items, but realized she
>might need to take care with the oil on canvas paintings. Other things, such
>as the walls, she has washed with soda.


I have gained some experience with the effect of acids on paintings, when
some madman through battery acid (sulfuric acid) on some paintings by
Rembrandt and his school, in Kassel, Germany. I was then on the staff of
the Doerner Institute, which was entrusted with the restoration.

During our research and experiments we found out that acids do almost all
of the damage in the first half hour of contact. Fortunately hydrochloric
acid and chlorine are volatile, and whatever unreacted acid might have been
on the paintings will have dissipated. I strongly advise against any
attempts to "neutralize" the paintings, since it will only cause damage.
Most likely only the varnish will have been affected, and the support
(canvas?). If no change in appearance can be seen I would do nothing.

Frank D. Preusser
Frank Preusser & Associates, Inc.
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