The mechanical behaviour and environmental response of paintings to three types of lining treatment

Abstract

In the 19th century, glue-paste lining was carried out to pre-empt the deterioration of still-sound canvases by making them stiffer and less hygroscopic. Wax-resin lining was developed from the mid-19th century with the latter aim in mind. A mid-20th-century painting by an unknown artist was cut up and lined by four methods comprising glue-paste with lined canvas, wax-resin with lined canvas, and BEVA with linen canvas and polyester sailcloth.
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\nThe biaxial tension was measured for all samples during three cycles of tensioning, as the relative humidity (RH) was changed in steps and over time. The results are discussed in detail. The wax-resin lining was unaffected by RH change, while the BEVA/sailcloth, BEVA/linen, and glue-paste linings were progressively more sensitive.