Elle Friedberg
Before treatment, normal illumination.
Before treatment, normal illumination.
Images: Jason Wierzbicki, Conservation Photographer
STANDING FIGURE OF SUSAN MACDOWELL EAKINS
Painted plaster
Materials
1894
Year
Samuel Murray
Maker
Collection
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Samuel Murray (American, 1869-1941), was a Philadelphia-born sculptor and art educator. In 1886, Murray enrolled at the Art Students’ League of Philadelphia where he was the student of artist Thomas Eakins (American, 1884-1916). Murray created nearly 200 small portraits in his lifetime, many of which were busts and full-length statuettes. The subject, Susan Hannah MacDowell Eakins (American, 1851-1938), was a painter and photographer. She was also the wife of Thomas Eakins.
In addition to the painted plaster sculpture in the PMA collection, there are at least three other casts of this sculpture in plaster and bronze in the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. and the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia, PA.
This object will be included in the new Eakins gallery at the PMA in Summer 2023.
Samuel Murray’s sculpture appears on the far right of the composition of this painting by Susan MacDowell Eakins.
The Lewis Sisters, Susan MacDowell Eakins, 1934, oil on canvas, 30 ¾ x 25 ½ inches, private collection.
Image: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 1973, 32.
CONDITION ISSUES ADDRESSED
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Large loss at the back left draped shoulder detail of the figure’s gown
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Several smaller losses
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Overall surface dust and grime
Detail of large loss at back left shoulder.
KEY TREATMENT STEPS
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Carried out x-ray radiography to visualize any metal supports
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Compared PMA sculpture to other casts at PAFA
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Sampled, mounted, and examined paint cross sections
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Consolidated areas of flaking/lifting paint
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Cleaned surface with dry followed by wet methods
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Compensated smaller losses
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Compensated largest loss at the back left draped shoulder detail of the figure's gown
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Inpainted fills using Golden Fluid Acrylics
Compensating loss in plaster with Flugger Acrylic Filler.
X-ray radiograph (top half of sculpture) showing internal metal armature.
Image: Jason Wierzbicki, Conservation Photographer
Taking mold of bronze cast sculpture at PAFA.
Aligning cast plaster fill made with mold.
Additional images. Use arrows to scroll and click on images to expand.
TREATMENT RESULTS
Before treatment, three-quarters front view.
After treatment, three-quarters front view.
Before treatment, three-quarters back view.
After treatment, three-quarters back view.
Image: Jason Wierzbicki, Conservation Photographer