Microscopic Analysis of Environmental Contaminants on the Oil Painting:
Squall at St. Vincent's Rock, Bristol

The study of pollen deposited on an exhibit is often used in forensic examinations to discover a location at which the exhibit has been present. This study was undertaken to find out whether pollens present on this painting supported (or not) its presence in Tasmania during the 1850's. Apart from the pollens other contaminants were found and investigated.

This file is a record of the microscope slides prepared for investigation.

To distinguish them the slides were named 'T-TAPE NNNN' where NNNN is numeric from 0001.

Locations from which they were extracted are shown in this file together with brief descriptions of what was found on each slide.

Tapes

Tapes were taken from the back of the painted canvas, from the stretcher and from the repair canvas.

Clear sticky tape was cut into strips about 25x8 mm and applied to the chosen location firmly, but not too hard, pressing once only. Tapes were stuck to microscope slides mostly individually but sometimes two to a slide. The held end of the tape was cut off and the remaining sample pushed firmly onto the slide.

This method has drawbacks mainly due to the sometimes high density of material and bubbles of trapped air between the tape and the slide. The advantages, however, far outweigh the disadvantages; the individual particles are trapped immovably and can easily be referred to time and time again by simple reference to coordinates recorded from the microscope table, colours are unchanged and the slides are robust and can be handled and stored easily without damage.

T-TAPE 0001

T-TAPE 0002

T-TAPE 0003 to 0007