Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

John Canning & Co. provided conservation services of 8 lunettes and 14 Stations of the Cross. Each piece of artwork was assessed to determine the conservation treatment prior to conservation.

Fine artwork solvent cleaning

For the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, CT, John Canning & Co. provided conservation services of 8 lunette artworks and 14 Stations of the Cross. Each artwork was assessed to determine the conservation treatment prior to conservation.

The Stations of the Cross were painted by James William Fosdick were executed in oils on wood panels. A yellowing varnish had been applied to the artwork and areas of flaking and loss. This varnish was removed and the artwork was conserved and inpainted, where necessary.

The lunettes were executed using a technique known as fresco secco and were completed by Rudolf Scheffler, a prolific German born artist. Because any aqueous solutions reactivated the paint layer, the lunettes were conserved using a dry cleaning method.

5 larger than life stone statues were cleaned and conserved in the church. The mosaic in the apse ceiling was also carefully cleaned and conserved.