The Brompton Oratory, London
THE MARY MAGDELINE CHAPEL / This project involved the conservation treatment and reinstatement of decoration to the interior of the Mary Magdeline Chapel of Brompton Oratory. In addition to years of accumulated surfaces dirt, the decorative surfaces were cracked, flaking and severely discoloured due to water ingress. The marouflage panels required careful cleaning and consolidation of the painted surface and reaffixing to the plaster substrate. Repairs were also carried out to the decorative plasterwork, replacing missing detail using a combination of casting and hand modelling techniques.
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Conservation works were carried out alongside Hare & Humphreys' specialist decorators who reinstated the damaged painted scheme of surrounding wall faces and decorative friezes and undertook the extensive re-gilding of decorative detail and the dome.
Conservation colleague Benedict Ryan beginning cleaning to plaster panel and and marouflage insert
During cleaning of marouflage showing amazingly preserved original surface beneath years of accumulated dirt
Area of chapel wall face with marouflage panel before and after conservation
Poor condition of wall faces and artworks before conservation
Wall faces and artworks after conservation and reinstatement of original painted decoration
ADDITIONAL WORKS / Conservation cleaning was also undertaken to the chapels' mosaics, statues and extensive marble alter.
Before and after conservation cleaning of mosaic
During cleaning of marble statue