Presenting a week long's course work, as a part of Conservation of Wall Paintings at Nagaur fort, conducted by Caroline Kyi.

1. LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Biodeterioration
Hadi Rani Mahal - Area Z
Course instructor: Caroline K
Maniyarasan R

2. Image: Aerial Image, Nagaur Fort, Rajasthan
Introduction
1
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018 Hadi Rani Mahal

3. Area Z
Introduction
1
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Aerial Image, Area Z, Hadi Rani Mahal

4. Image: Area Z, Hadi Rani Mahal, Nagaur Fort, Rajasthan
Area Z
Introduction
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LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
• Space - Internal or External
• Evidence of two levels of
Ceiling
• Presence of Eaves
• Wall paintings remnants on the
Southern Wall
• Wall paintings under the
eastern and northern wall, lost
in the plaster repair
• Inconsistent gutter holes,
without any continuity from the
second floor
• Heavy dark, black patches in
the centre of the wall. Not so
much above or below

5. Image: Southern Wall with uneven plaster, Area Z.
Introduction
1
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018

6. Image: Southern Wall with uneven plaster, Area Z.
Introduction
1
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Remaining Paint PigmentRemaining Paint
Pigment
Remaining Paint
Pigment

7. Images: 1.Southern Wall corner. 2. Evidence of ceiling with the Eaves. 3. Presence of central columns, indicating a possible Western side opening.
1
2 3
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LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Introduction

8. Issues
2
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Video: Area Z, Hadi Rani Mahal

9. Issues
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Week 6
30th March 2018
• Conservation of remaining wall
painting fragments
• Localised changes prevalent at
areas of the Southern wall of
Hadi Rani Mahal
• Damage to Wall paintings -
Biodeterioration or Physical
history
• Timeline of history, spatial
characters and original
construction techniques.

10. 2
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Causes

11. 2
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Causes
To establish the cause of damage to Wall paintings. To determine if there is any biodeterioration. Weather &
Micro climate possibilities. Light and heat. Varied levels within the walls. Rain water spill, drainage of water
on the wall. Compare with the eastern wall.
Video: Area Z, Timelapse 28th March 2018

12. Photogrammetric Image: South & East Wall running till the first floor.
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Causes
2

13. 2
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Remaining Paint Pigment (S1)Remaining Paint
Pigment (S2)
Remaining Paint
Pigment (S3)
Impact

14. Image: S1, UV Induced Luminescence, Area Z.
Chhatri
Features & Patterns
Trees
Biological Reactions
People (Mostly Women)
Depicted in Leisurely activities
Garden
Repaired Plaster
2
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Impact

15. `
Image: N1, UV Induced, Area Z.
Image: S3, UV Induced, Area Z.
2
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Impact

16. 2
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Week 6
30th March 2018
Issues
Causes
Impact
To summarise, there is a need to know and establish, if there is any Biodeterioration,
and if it is active. It is vital, in tandem, to understand the physical history.
Thus assisting in ascertaining a conservation strategy to be undertaken.

17. Examination
Sampling
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LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Description:
(1) Change in colour on the upper
part.
(2) Presence of microorganisms.
(3) Evidence of water content.
(4) Moisture Content.
Material Condition:
(1) Inconsistent fall of plaster
(2) Delamination in the repair plaster
(3) Difference in construction techniques
(4) Semi closed space with a wall on three sides
and a tree on one
(5) No direct sunlight on the North wall.

18. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Observations/ Recordings
• Difference in Surface temperature, compared to the external layer.
• Absence of sunlight on the walls.
• Exposed stone wall.
• First floor wall without any ventilation.
Environmental Conditions:
Moisture - The major reason for the change in colour. No continuation of drainage pipes, and hence
the water has to channel to come down. The moisture gradually reduces, as you come down the wall.
Light - Heavily shadowed area. The central area gets light, only for 3 hours roughly from 9 am to 12
noon.

19. 2
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
S 1
Impact
S 2
S 3
Sampling Areas

20. Examination
Sampling
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Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 1 Image: Sample 2 Image: Sample 3
Sampling
Localised changes rationalised the need to look for different representative areas.
1. Repair plaster area
2. Pigment area (remaining painting)
3. Upper dark area

21. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 1

22. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 2

23. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 3

24. Sampling
3
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30th March 2018
S01
Tape
Mildly Invasive
Presence of particles
Easy conformance
Possibility of biodeterioration
S02
Tape
Mildly Invasive
Evident of particles
No issues of conformance
To compare with S01
S03
Tape
Mildly Invasive
Presence of particles
Surface rough
Evidence of biodeterioration

25. Remedial
Treatments
4
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 1 Image: Sample 2 Image: Sample 3

26. Remedial
Treatments
4
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Tape sampling

27. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 1

28. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 1

29. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 1

30. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: Sample 2

31. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Video: Other Samples from B-team, showing the presence of Fungi

32. Examination
Sampling
3
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
• Mild active biological activity in the paint layer
• Differential methodologies to be looked into
• Presence of pigments will determine the primary remedial actions
• Localised selection of sampling techniques
• Presence of dirt through the wall
• The areas of loss are mostly flat, denoting less or no microbial activity

33. Remedial
Treatments
4
LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
Treatment and Application methodologies
Method 1: Swab and Poultice layer. 70% Ethanol
Method 2: Brush and Poultice layer. 70% Ethanol
Method 3: Swab. 70% Ethanol
Considerations to choose methods:
• Less toxic
• Least Invasive
• Locally judged and applied
• Continuous monitoring
• Reversibility
Image: Before Treatment methodologies applied

34. Remedial
Treatments
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Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: After Treatment methodologies applied
Images: B-Team participants applying Ethanol, with an Intervention layer in-between, with brush and swab respectively

35. Remedial
Treatments
4
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Week 6
30th March 2018
Image: After Treatment methodologies appliedImage: Before Treatment methodologies applied

36. Conclusion
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Week 6
30th March 2018
Area Z & Biodeterioration
Eastern Wall has more active biodeterioration than the South with paintings. Need to understand the
water drainage through the walls, during the monsoon season. Direct sunlight and heat plays a
significant role in the change.
Ethanol
No single method of treatment or application of treatment. Extremely localised actions of treatment.
Differential methods, applications, manual labour, ethanol concentration etc., to be worked upon with.
Ethanol works better for smaller painted areas, and may not be applicable for larger areas. Ethanol
evaporates faster. Decontamination.

37. References
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LLFCC
Week 6
30th March 2018
• Leon Levy Foundation 2017, Hadi Rani Mahal report, Courtauld
Institute of Arts.
• Jain, M., Ahhichatragarh, Fort and palace complex: Conservation
project report A: 2004 -2006
• Jain, M.,Jain, K. and Arya, M. 2009. Architecture of a Royal Camp:
The retrieved Fort of Nagaur. Ahemdabad: AADI Centre
• Jain,M. Ahhichatragarh , Fort and palace complex: Conservation
project report A:1998-2001
• Loh, L. 2013, Rehabilitation of Nagaur Fort, 2013 On site review report
• NAGAUR SURVEY REPORT 2006
• Leon Levy Foundation _2012_ Hadi Rani Mahal report
• Art, Biology, and Conservation: Bio deterioration of Works of Art,
edited by Robert John Koestler
• Microbicides for the Protection of Materials: A Handbook, W. Paulus