PICASSO UNDER INVESTIGATION Condition Assessment of the Acrobat Family by Pablo Picass

Abstract

This study focuses on a painting on cardboard by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), The Acrobat Family, created in 1905 and currently part of the collection of the Gothenburg Museum of Art. Because of the scarcity of documentation about the object's condition, the necessity of an extensive investigation has arisen on the occasion of a loan request from abroad. The primary purpose of the research is to gain enough information in order to be later used to discuss and evaluate the artifact's suitability to be included in an external exhibition. The study is the first step for the arrangement of an eventual conservation plan and for the development of a housing, transport, and exhibition strategy specifically designed to meet the painting’s needs. As first part of this research, an initial study was carried out due to the contradictions and the lack of evidence regarding the identification of materials and techniques. The investigation was conducted through a literary review of Picasso's contemporary production sharing similar features and through instrumental analysis. An ocular examination of the painting, supported by photographic documentation, has been carried out under magnification in order to inspect its current condition and verify the presence of potential structural problems. Multispectral imaging has been employed as well in order to deepen the study of the materials used by Picasso. Although only non-invasive and nondestructive methods have been chosen for this case study, fibre analysis and pH measurement of the support has been made possible due to the unintentional detachment of some micro-fragments of cardboard. Even though more sophisticated analysis will be necessary in order to understand the exact material composition of the painting, the results provided some documented indications and suggestions about the materials involved and their state of preservation/degradation. After the analyses, the main risk for the object's stability is considered to be the fragile condition of the support, which is acidic and shows signs of discoloration, surface embrittlement and delamination. The use of pastels has not been detected, but further analyses are required to exclude this possibility. In fact, this technique is highly sensitive to vibration and its presence would represent a serious hinder for a loan abroad. Light fastness of blue pigments has also been underlined as an issue to be taken into account