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

Abstract A 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.

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