Webinar: Using Architectural Paint Analysis to Help Decipher Historic Buildings

Event Details

Join Dr. Susan Buck virtually on Thursday, April 22 for a webinar on Zoom entitled Using Architectural Paint Analysis to Help Decipher Historic Buildings.

What is architectural paint analysis and what does it entail? Most historic house museums and owners of historic houses are curious about how their buildings were originally painted. Optical microscopy analysis of architectural paint samples helps to document and understand the paint types and colors applied to buildings over time. But cross-section and polarized light microscopy analysis can identify far more than just datable paint layers. The comparative stratigraphies of paints and varnishes found in cross-section samples can also be used as archaeological tools to identify original elements and the timing for building alterations and additions. This lecture will explain current analysis methodologies and show how paint analysis has provided important insights into physical changes at Drayton Hall, the Nathaniel Russell House, Monticello and the Brice House in Annapolis, Maryland.

This is a Donate What You Can Event. If you are not able to attend at the broadcast time, please register as usual and a recording of the event will be on the event page the day after the event.