'Accelerated Ageing of Fabric Supports: Is it Possible?'

To gain insight into the nature of the physical degradation of paintings on fabric supports and to provide samples to assess structural conservation treatments, it is essential to produce 'model' samples. These samples should exhibit the same physical characteristics as 'real' paintings. The results of experimental trials aimed at producing canvas which has the same physical properties as naturally aged canvas are presented. The samples were either acid-aged in an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid or in a sulphur dioxide vapour. These 'model' samples are compared to archival material using tensile testing. The validity of such approaches to produce samples for testing and the relevance to conservation are discussed.