Arte Conservatus
Alice Prescott Whyte, Fine Art Conservator
After all these many years, I still derive great satisfaction from my work. I have met many fascinating collectors, worked on some amazing pieces and traveled all over the country. The breadth of my work has spanned from ancient Greece to contemporary works of art and everything in between. Art historian and scientist is what constitutes a conservator. I love the diversity which comprises my practice. While the nature of the work is both compelling and methodical, it is carried out in the solitary sanctity of my studio. As a consequence, the personal relationships formed with the owners of the art are immensely significant to me.
About a year ago, a client contacted me about a piece of history which had great significance to him. He had been a career pilot in the United States Air Force and was now retired and flying commercially. He had been a member of The 27th Pursuit Squadron also called the 27th Fighter Squadron. They were known as the “Fight'n Eagles or Black Falcons”. The 27th is the oldest active squadron in the U.S.A.F. During World War l The squadron was based in France under the leadership of flying ace Lieutenant Frank Luke, jr. Among the planes flown in the conflict against Germans were the Nieuport 28 and the Spad Xlll. My client, who was still active in the Air Corps was stationed in Virginia when he discovered a piece of history that has special significance to him. One a day off he wandered into an antique store and spotted a tattered and torn painted canvas with a black eagle. He immediately recognized the image as the insignia of his squadron, although this version depicted the eagle trying to grasp several Maltese Crosses. Intrigued, he purchased the painted canvas from the shop owner and kept it for several years. After his retirement and marriage he had the canvas framed . It was traditionally framed and hung on the wall in his home. He said he never cared for the way it was framed and lamented that there was considerable paint loss.
He contacted me to look at his eagle. The condition was poor but considering the fact that many planes of the World War l era were lost in combat, it was miraculous, in any event, that it survived at all. The planes were manufactured in France. Unlike the technological wonders of today’s modern air craft, planes constructed during World War l were made of linen canvas that was covered in hide glue and stretched over a wooden framework. They were light weight and must have been nimble but hardly made to last. Upon examination, the trapezoidal linen section had been stitched together in vertical sections by machine. Originally, the insignia was painted on the side of the plane directly behind the pilot. It must have been damaged (gunfire?, crashes?) many times, as hand stitched repairs could be noted. Additionally, the paint had been repainted and the color lots were not exact or even close. At least three times the section had been repainted in areas. The linen section had been folded many times and severe creases were evident. The most fascinating observation of all was what I saw on the verso or reverse side. Stamped in numerous places was a name. It read F.P. Nicholson, Brandon, Vermont. Could this be the pilot? The artist ?
The conservation treatment consisted of flattening the planar folds, consolidation of the paint, filling areas of paint loss, inpainting and protective varnish. Because this was not a traditional work of art, I didn’t want to frame it the way it was originally framed. It occurred to me that it need to presented in a manner that was consistent with what is was, a section of a plane. I created a trapezoidal wooden frame and stretched the section over it. I then mounted it on a plexiglass support that was framed with a traditional moulding. It was now three dimensional. I wanted to give the impression that it was floating in air (or flying). The plexiglass enabled the viewer to see the name of F.E. Nicholson from the back.
My client was delighted with the newly conserved and reimagined insignia. He said he had never noticed the name stamped on the verso before. I don’t know who F.P. Nicholson of Brandon, Vermont was or what happened to him. But someone realized the importance and rescued the insignia of the plane. A century ago, that plane flew over Europe and now part of that plane is preserved by a squadron brother in Texas. A fitting memorial and an unsolved mystery…..
