Heart Art

Spirit Shrine is a large painting on Eastern paper that was completed by an unknown artist in Korea in 1811. Traditionally, Korean households maintained a room or a separate building that was equipped with special furniture and utensils for the rituals of ancestor worship. In the late Joseon Dynasty (1392 – 1897), pictorial representations of ancestral shrines began to replace actual shrines. According to the inscription on this painting, it was completed at the Hall of East Fragrance and is dedicated to the king and the queen of the state, evidence that these paintings were not only in demand by the general public, but also by public offices.

In preparation for the reinstallation of our Asian galleries, Spirit Shrine was examined and treated in the museum’s paper conservation laboratory. During examination, we discovered that many of the pigments were flaking and powdering and would therefore require consolidation, a treatment that involves the application of a dilute adhesive to improve the cohesion of the pigment particles and their adhesion to the paper support.

When selecting a compatible consolidant, we not only look for something that is effective and chemically stable, but it should not alter the appearance of the pigment. This can be particularly tricky with matte media, such as that used in this painting, as many consolidants can render the surface glossy. Additionally, we must plan an appropriate application method that will not move or fracture the loose pigment particles. After thorough testing on each individual pigment, we determined that several different adhesives and application techniques were required to stabilize the various paint films on this object.

For this painting, both synthetic and organic adhesives were employed to consolidate the pigments. In most instances, the adhesive could be safely applied to the flaking pigment using a brush while working under magnification. For those areas where the pigments were very powdery, an organic adhesive was applied in a fine mist using an ultrasonic mister.

After the successful completion of this treatment, Spirit Shrine can now be safely exhibited in the Museum’s gallery.