Maura Van Woert

Abstract:

When a tree fell on one of the Stations of the Cross that line Peytons Path, repairs were needed. In order to complete these repairs, a detailed analysis of the paint composition was needed. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) we analyzed samples from different parts of the sculpture, such as Christ’s robe and the sky, in order to get a better understanding of the chemical makeup of the paint. These results were able to help us repaint the sculpture more accurately with pigments that better matched the original pigment’s chemical makeup. This presentation details the results we found and how we were able to use it to repair a sacred piece of campus.