Conservation of the Frans De Vos Circus Banners
Condition of the Banners Before Conservation Treatment
A rolled banner with old patches, lead paint, glue, and tape on the back of the original canvas
Detail of the artist’s signature with surface grime and old paint abrasions
A banner being examined in the ARTEX Conservation Laboratory
A banner seen in raking light, illustrating the canvas deformation and old repairs
Typical creases, tears, and holes in the canvas support
Old stitched repairs to torn canvas and lead paint that has seeped through from the back
Surface grime on the painted surface
Conservation Treatment The goals of conservation treatment were to stabilize the structure of the banners and return the appearance to a state that more closely resembles that of the original. The aim was to also retain signs of age, wear, and use that reflect the history and life of these banners.
During Conservation Treatment
Removal of heavy surface grime layers from the left half of the painted surfaces reveals original paint colors
Conservators removing a variety of old patches from the back of the banner
Conservators during the painstaking removal of patches, adhesives, and lead paint from the back of the original canvas
During temporary realignment of canvas tears
Using a heated suction table to attach a lining canvas to the most damaged sections of the original canvas
After adding canvas inserts to larger areas of canvas loss and infilling smaller paint loss areas
Inpainting of fills and paint loss areas
Before and After Conservation Treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before and After Conservation Treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
Before treatment
After treatment
After Conservation Treatment
Enjoy viewing two of the conserved banners that are now on display in the Historic Circus Museum
Acknowledgments ARTEX CONSERVATION LABORATORY Former ARTEX Conservators who conserved the De Vos Circus banners: Barbara A. Ramsay Kristen Loudermilk Christina Jackson José Luis Lazarte Pamela Betts
Elizabeth Mehlin Peter Nelsen Meredith Watson René Sandin Joanne Klaar Walker
Consultation during the project with Nancy Pollak and former staff at The Ringling: Deborah Walk and Michelle Scalera