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How the work was done on Battle of Pozières, 1916 (diorama)

16 October 2013

This blog post hopes to answer some questions you might have on how we are conserving the First World War dioramas. Describe the scaffolding, work area, tools, documentation and treatment steps of the conservation. To better illustrate these point we are using pphotographs from the conservation treatment from the Battle of Pozières, 1916 diorama.

This diorama depicts events from the summer of 1916 when the Australians captured the crest of the Somme-Ancre ridge beyond Pozieres. The terrific bombardments laid down by both sides in this fighting pulverised the countryside, obliterating trenches and burying the troops in the debris. In this diorama the viewer is shown the remnant of an Australian Lewis gun crew upon the crest of the ridge, as it awaits the German counter-stroke. Louis McCubbin painted the original figures (in 1938), background and modelling (in 1936). The background was repainted by Murray Griffin in 1971.

1928-1929

London

  • Lynch, Frank (Artist);
  • McCubbin, Louis (Artist);
  • Bowles, Leslie (Cast by);
  • Gregory, E J (Cast by);

The First World War dioramas are viewed through a hole in the wall in front of them (known as the aperture). Behind the dioramas is a back drop a painted surface depicting a three dimensional scene on a curved surface.

Battle of Pozières, 1916

Due to the restrictions of the backdrop and aperture a cantilevered scaffold was erected during the treatment of each diorama to allow safe access to the diorama surfaces.

Access

Documentation Photography and written report

Vac brush

Wet cleaning

Before and after images

Careful scaffold construction

Scaffold complete, steel ladders extend through the aperture and support wooden planks above the diorama’s surface, the system is balanced by hundreds of kilograms of counterweighting

Scaffold complete

The work area above the diorama surface, with work equipment (including vacuum cleaner, brushes, cotton wool, water and photographs to be annotated) and creature comforts

Work area

This scaffolding allowed conservators to close access to the diorama’s surface without risking damage of the fragile dioramas.

The wooden planks were padded, as working for extended period on this surface and in this position can be tiring and uncomfortable.

Alana and Janet on the work area, green lights in foreground aid what can be seen

Alana and Janet at work cleaning the diorama surface

Wooden planks are moved to allow access to all areas of the diorama surface Alana is ‘vac brushing’ (using a soft brush to move dust from the diorama and using a vacuum cleaner to catch the dust).

Alana

Janet cleans the diorama surface with a cotton swab moistened with water

Janet swab cleaning

During treatment photograph of area of diorama, left hand side is cleaned and right hand side is uncleaned

After treatment photograph of the same area

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Last updated: 30 March 2021

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