A survey of the conservation literature relating to the development of aqueous gel cleaning on painted and varnished surfaces

AbstractA brief overview of cleaning controversies illustrates the importance for control during the cleaning of paintings. In the mid-1980s Richard Wolbers introduced a gelled aqueous system in response to the need for increased control, as an alternative to cleaning with free solvents. A chronological survey of the conservation literature related to aqueous gel cleaning follows. The paper concludes with an outline of a current research project examining the problem of residues and gel clearance.