Maintenance of Mural Paintings and Icons - Some Problems

Maintenance of Mural Paintings and Icons

- Some Problems

Due to their enormous size and vulnerability to the public and exposure, mural paintings are not easy to maintain and preserve their originality.  Firstly, because they are exposed to the elements and various human activities, including vandalism.  Secondly, the background and medium used may not be suitable to the local conditions. And thirdly, the mural may not serve its purpose at all, and therefore left neglected. Why many paintings are left in the attic if not in the open!  

Mural Paintings of Dr Abe V Rotor

Huge wall mural at St Paul University QC graces a dead end of a covered walk is now in a state of disrepair due to leaking concrete wall background. Painted in 2000 by the author.

A 10ft x 14 ft mural on canvas graces the elevated lobby of a home in QC.  Due to limited space the mural was folded at both ends, reducing the mural to 10ft x 10ft, square, instead of a panoramic horizontal view. Painted by the author, circa 2000

Details of  a mural on canvas, Quaintness of Countryside Life , showing only the left half portion.  Whatever happened to the other part.   Painted by he author, circa 2001

Claude Monet's mural has greatly deteriorated before it was restored.

The mural on the north wall of the University Co-Op was painted in 2003, but the co-op and artists say they don't have enough money to renovate the mural marred by graffiti. William Cumming’s Mural for Burlington High School, 1941, tempera on linen sailcloth (Eric Chauvin)The 1941 mural by famed Northwest artist Cumming sat undiscovered in a barn for decades and was identified after it was displayed at the Skagit County Fair in 2014. It’s now visible to the public — for a short time — at a Seattle gallery.

The original Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece, The Last Supper, was painstakingly restored on a wall on which it was painted. ~

Another work of Leonardo da Vinci, Mother and Child, before restoration. A second restoration was later required to patch up shotgun holes on the restored painting.  Two masterpieces were damaged by irrational visitors, Nightwatch mural by Rembrandt and the Pieta by Michelangelo. (lower photos)

Twice this famous mural by Rembrandt was slashed with knife, 

restored with the scars inflicted by the mad admirers.  

 

Pieta attacked with a hammer by a madman shouting, "I am the risen Christ!" The restored icon is now enclosed in a thick glass inside the St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.  ~