Removal of a wax‐resin lining and colour changes: A case study

Wax‐resin impregnation and lining can significantly alter the appearance of a canvas painting. This study investigates the possibilities for and the effects of reversing such treatments. When a subsequent structural intervention became necessary on a wax‐resin lined painting, tests indicated that reheating would cause further discolouration of the paint surface. An alternative treatment was successfully applied using a non polar organic solvent gel and a suction table treatment to extract a major quantity of the wax‐resin adhesive from the reverse. Comparative colour measurements of the paint surface confirmed that the discolouration was reversed to a certain degree. This method is an attempt to correct some of the drawbacks associated with modern wax‐resin impregnated canvases.