Academic thesis

Kamila Gora: The painting technique of Richard Gerstl: Examination of 21 Gerstl paintings from the collections of the Leopold Museum and the Wien Museum. Conservation and restoration of the painting „Mother and daughter“ (oil/canvas, 1906, Wien Museum) Back
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Abstract: Richard Gerstl (1883–1908) was a portrait and landscape painter and a pioneer of Austrian Expressionism. The thesis focuses on the technological investigation and condition assessment of 21 paintings from the collections of the Leopold Museum and the Wien Museum. The heterogeneity of the analysed group of works corresponds with Richard Gerstls Oeuvre and includes all recognizable creative phases. This allows comparative analysis of the painting technique and illustrates its chronological development within the artist‘s short but rich and varied creative period.
A written record, created for each painting separately, aims to offer a comprehensive description of the painting technique and the condition of the work, as well as insights into its (restoration) history and the materials used. It is supplemented with extensive photographic documentation. Material samples taken during the examination of the paintings are partially evaluated in the form of cross sections. Instrumental analysis of further material samples (FTIR/GC-MS) leads to the identification of binder groups within the paint material and to the detection of secondary materials. Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis carried out in situ at the Leopold Museum leads to the partial characterisation of the pigments used by the artist. A conclusive assessment of the findings accompanied by the evaluation of relevant written and pictorial sources is carried out with regard to the overall known oeuvre and the chronological development of the painting technique.
In addition to the technological investigations, conservation-restoration treatment was carried out on the painting Mutter und Tochter from the collection of the Wien Museum. The painting exhibited a comparatively high level of dirt and grime accumulation on the paint surface. Dark paint areas were affected by white surface bloom, subsequently attributed to the migration of binder components (fatty acids) within the paint material. The focus of the practical work was therefore on the surface cleaning and the removal of efflorescence deposits, which can also be found on many other works.

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Keywords: Richard Gerstl, painting technique, art technological research, Austrian expressionism, re-used support, double-sided painting, efflorescence, fatty acid efflorescence
Details:
  • academic institution: Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien
  • kind of theses:  Diplomarbeit
  • main Tutor:  o.Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dipl.Ing. Wolfgang Baatz
  • assistant Tutor:  Mag. Dr. Anke Schäning
  • date:  2019
  • Language:  German
  • pages:  345
  • pictures:  733
Related Webaddress https://repository.akbild.ac.at/de/alle_inhalte/query;fq=%7B%22fulltext%22:%5B%22gora%22%5D%7D;st=0;sz=50/23618
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