Frederick Alexander Pawla's Invisible Mural: Home
		PRELIMINARY REPORT LOCATION OF MURAL PAINTINGS: Burlingame High School, framing entrance to auditorium ARTIST: Frederick Alexander Paula (Signed LL of Indian and wagon train panels; and LR of ship and Columbus panels.) SUBJECT: Settlement and discovery of America DATE: Circa 1930 (W.P.A. project) MEDIUM: Oil SUPPORT: Primary-Canvas Secondary-Strainer or stretcher APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS: (of entire mural) Height- 6-7 ft. Length- 68 ft. (The painting is divided into seven panels; see sketch.) PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION: Date of examination - November 17, 1973 Each of the painted panels is slack. The canvas support is deformed along the lower portions where there are gouges or deep scratches in the painting, There are scattered holes, among them are: the small hole in the upper right corner of the ship panel, the small hole approximately 4 inches from the bottom at the center of the covered wagon panel, and the small slit 10 inches from the bottom at the center of the same panel. There are small gouges scattered throughout. The paint layer is rich paste and dry. (The ground layer is as yet undetermined.) The paint layer in the areas just described is abraded and there are losses surrounding them. There is branch crackle and concentric crackle (Most likely caused by blows), There are vertical branch cracks corresponding to the inner edges of the vertical stretcher members. Cleavage accompanies these cracks. There is no varnish apparent. There are traces of ballpoint pen and black paint along the lower portions of the mural. There is an uneven layer of dirt and grime, and scattered extraneous accretions. NOTE: This examination was necessarily superficial - a full examination would require cleaning tests, examination of the reverse and secondary support of the mural, of conditions of the wall behind it, and so forth. Consequently the cost and suggested treatment is subject to modification depending upon the results of more extensive examination and upon the degree of complexity encountered during treatment. SUGGESTED TREATMENT: PLAN A - Restoration (first aid) 1. Photograph 2. Remove from wall 3. Remove dirt and grime 4. Patch holes, consolidate cracks, minimize deformations in canvas 5. Restretch on former support 6. Fill losses 7. Inpaint where necessary 8. Apply protective coating of synthetic varnish 9. Apply protective stripping around edges 10. Reinstall The above work could be done on the premises. It would require help from the staff maintenance for removal and reinstallation. Lighting, ladders, saw horses, etc. could be furnished by the school. The work would be undertaken preferably during a long school holiday. APPROXIMATE TIME: 6-8 weeks APPROXIMATE COST: $2000 - $2500 (includes materials) PLAN B - Conservation 1. Photograph 2. Remove from wall 3. Ship to laboratory 4. Remove dirt and grime 5. Remove from support 6. Repair holes 7. Prepare lining canvas (double-weave linen) 8. Line on vacuum hot table with wax resin mixture 9. Attach on vacuum hot table to new hollow core panel 10. Fill losses 11. Inpaint where necessary 12. Apply protective coating of synthetic varnish 13. Apply protective stripping 14. Reinstall APPROXIMATE TIME - 5 months APPROXIMATE COST $5000 - $6000 (includes materials but not shipping costs) COST OF REPORT- $25.00 (Deducted if work is undertaken) Denise M. Domergue c/o Art Department Museology Laboratory University of California, Davis, Calif.
	Frederick Alexander Pawla's Invisible Mural: Home