The Paint Detective

Patrick Baty

Sampling

Small samples are taken from each of the elements

The best of the samples are selected and placed in moulds with

a label to identify them

The paint flakes are placed in half-filled moulds. Quick-setting resin is poured

over them, and they are left to harden.

Cross Sections

Cross Sections

When the resin has set the block is cut through and polished

Microscopy

Examination is carried out using different microscopes

Paint Analysis

A series of green schemes found on a garden door on the Culzean Castle estate

A few grains of pigment are spread on a glass slide and examined under a polarising microscope

Pigment Analysis

Typical shapes of pigment particles

Scanning Electron Microscope

Benjamin Franklin House

Gwydyr House

Railings

Simple Tricky!

Spencer House

Projects range from the sublime ….

Spencer House - Painted Room

James Stuart’s Design - 1759

Spencer House - Painted Room

Cross Section

Note how the recent layers are much darker than the early ones

Existing scheme

PlasterFirst scheme

Spencer House - Painted Room

Gilding

ExistingOriginal

RAF Bicester

Wartime Bomber Station

Documentary Evidence

British Standard 381C: 1931

Albany

The aim of the project often varies

Hampton Court – Privy Garden

1702

1990

Tijou Screen

1975

Cross Section

Hampton Court 1995

Tijou Screen

To Gild or Not?

Six months later

Initial compromise

Hammersmith Bridge

Useful Training for a Paint Analyst

Sampling

From Top….. …to Bottom

Location of Gilding

Temple Newsam

Picture Gallery before project

Red or Green Flock?

Temple Newsam - Green Flock

Fragment embedded in primer

Finished appearance

Uppark - Saloon

Just three schemes

Repton Bookcase 1814

1

2

3

Uppark - Little Parlour

Fowler-applied

Chimneypiece Cross-Section

Goodwood

Evidence of something underneath

Goodwood - Scagliola Revealed

Painters’ names

Egyptian Dining Room

1947 19031970

Original Paintwork

Unpainted plaster

Tapestry Drawing Room ceiling

Early Texts

Whittock, Tingry and HayJohn Smith

Handel House Museum

First View

Exterior

Attic Panelling

Red oxide in size primer

Original Door

Early browns

Handel House - Completed

Newhailes

Dining Room

Fine Green

The colourman who supplied the paint

Newhailes - Dining Room

1740s & 1870s Schemes

1870s scheme on sashes

French Ultramarine

Newhailes – Alcove Bedroom

Five schemes

Holmwood House

Alexander “Greek” Thompson

Exposed Stencilling

Entrance Hall – fifth scheme Landing – third scheme

Elaborate Decoration

Gilded Stencil Detail

Gilding

Plaster

Red

Green

Scope for Confusion

Green on Red Stencil Red on Green Stencil

A Wiltshire House - Saloon

Chimneypiece Exposed purple on ceiling

For more information on what I do:

www.colourman.com

By Appointment toHer Majesty The Queen

Architectural Paint SpecialistsPapers and Paints Ltd

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