Hello all,

I just recently purchased a Caproni & Bros reproduction of the Venus of
Milo. It is in pretty good shape for its age, aside from some abrasions
and the unfortunate flattening of the nose from a fall. The nose I can
probably fix, but there is a bigger problem plaguing me: at some point
an idiot slapped a really disfiguring, thick coat of white paint over
much of the statue. This paint was applied in such a sloppy fashion
that I can see the brushstrokes criss-crossing the abdomen and other
places. I've lucked out somewhat since the paint is flaking off in
spots, and with a dulled toothpick, I can gently flake off the paint
here and there. I've never removed paint from a plaster statue before.
Is there a safe way to do it without damaging the plaster beneath?

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks,
Jerry Fisher

This is a common problem in ornamental plastering. It would depend on the
paint used - some paint soaks right into the plaster, and there is no way
you are going to remove it without careful sanding/scraping at some point.
From what you describe, it is probably latex paint, and you have two
techniques to help you remove it. Firstly you can soak the piece in warm
water, even overnight is OK- the plaster will not be damaged, and some or a
lot of the paint might come loose. Secondly, alcohol (sold cheaply up here
as Methyl Hydrate) will budge latex but not damage the plaster. If these
don't work, then you have to get into the messy business of paint removers
and heat guns. Unlike concrete or lime plaster, you can pretty well use any
strong remover - gypsum plaster is calcium sulphate - so it is pretty
neutral chemically.

Once you have cleaned your venus, seal the surface with a light coat of
shellac, and then make up some whitewash (I can give you some formulas) and
paint it. As it gets dirty, you can soak it in water, the whitewash comes
off easily, and you can recoat with fresh whitewash. This way it can always
look like pristine plaster but without the buildup. If you are real lucky,
the coat on the statue is already whitewash, it will come off with the
soaking. This whitewash over varnish/shellac is a very old technique.

I agree with the advice Gary has given, for the most part. I would change "a
light coat of shellac" to a light coat of "thinned" shellac.

A major point that I would make is - proceed slowly at first, and with much
caution. Do some trials on a small inconspicuous area.

Be careful soaking your statue. This is not an incorrect procedure, but the
plaster will reach a saturation point after awhile, and soften the plaster,
significantly. Depending on the type of plaster that Venus is cast in, this
point could be sooner, or later.

I have found that in many cases compressed air is all that is necessary to
remove the paint. Blowing at an angle parallel to the surface plane, start
in an area that is already lifted. Sometimes the paint will leave in sheets.
As Gary said "It would depend on the paint used".

> The nose I can probably fix

Cut in just a little, to remove the crust on the surface of the damaged
area, a thinned coat of shellac, then repair with plaster mixed with Elmer's
glue, instead of water. Scarify the surface before applying the shellac and
your new plaster, and then apply a thin layer first, pressing it in tightly
for an intimate bond. Then build up from there.

> I just recently purchased a Caproni & Bros reproduction of the Venus

How about a picture Jerry. There are several versions of the Caproni Venus,
and I am curious to which one you have. What is the size??

I've read some of Macdonald's work. Plenty of details. He says Vignola was
the master of perspective, and Palladio produced works of art from
commonplace building materials, brick faced with stucco.

Interesting to me, the first white gypsum cement was made using pearl ash
and sulphuric acid in the early 1800s. And the dating of early use of
fibrous plaster - the Egyptians and their mummies wrapped in gypsum steeped
canvas. The first form of sheetrock went out to the masses in 1875.
Michelangelo preferred wax for his molds while his contemporaries were using
plaster.

Macdonald notes that in 1862 the first Plasterers union was formed.
And in a parody of the bylaws -
the Ethics Committee will be controlled by the Committee on Finance. Also a
convention to be held once a year, or whenever the members accumulate a
sufficient stock of good liquor to insure proper enthusiasm.