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Siavash Maraghechi is a post-doctoral researcher in the Chair of Applied Mechanics at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His research interest is in the field of multiscale experimental mechanics, that he is currently applying to study degradation of historical paper as a part of ColletionCare project, that aims to develop an innovative preventive conservation decision support system for museums and collections. In this presentation he introduces the experimental methodology to study the mechanical behaviour of single cellulose fibres, the building block of paper. An optical profilometer, a micro-tensile stage and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique come together to result in a deeper understanding of the mechanics of each fibre. Such detailed assessment of cellulose fibres’ properties can be applied to naturally aged paper samples, or combined with accelerated aging experiments to shed valuable light on the degradation of paper, and provide better guidance for conservators.

Anna Krekeler started working at the Rijksmuseum as a painting conservator in 2007. She is a team member of Operation Night Watch and currently involved in the technical research of Rembrandt’s masterpiece. Operation Night Watch is the largest research and conservation project, that Rembrandt’s masterpiece The Night Watch (1642, oil on canvas, h 378.4 x w 453 cm) has ever undergone. When looking at The Night Watch, one area in particular has often been noted by public and scholars alike: the indistinct, blotchy, almost faded-looking dog, which is vaguely visible in the lower right corner of the composition. This talk discusses what is compromising the dog’s current appearance and how he might have looked like originally.

Emanuela Bosco is Assistant Professor in the Chair of Applied Mechanics at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Her research interest is in the field of computational mechanics, in particular on multi-scale and multi-physics methods to predict the degradation of historical art objects. This study focusses on the prediction of craquelure and delamination mechanisms in historical paintings due to indoor climate fluctuations.