CONTACT LENSES ON THE CHROMATIC REINTEGRATION PROCESS OF THE EYEBALLS OF A WOOD SCULPTURE

Abstract

Chromatic reintegration aims to decrease deterioration evidences in the artwork and retrieve the visual interpretation of its iconographic shapes and contents.   This case study will focus on the chromatic reintegration process of the eyeballs of a wood sculpture representing Saint Teotónio. Instead of applying colour over the eyeballs, it was decided to make thin lenses that could be placed directly on the surface.   Experiments were carried out with different resins, on one centimetre in diameter moulds. The resins tested were Paraloid B72; PVA Inpainting Medium (Gustav Berger's Berger's O.F.); Mowilith DS 5/2; Aquazol 200; Plextol B500 and the monomer 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate (2 EHA).   The selected resin was the monomer 2 EHA, which was then tested in a mixture with acrylic paint to achieve an accurate colour representation of the iris and pupil of the eye.