Removing overpaint

We are gathering information for a method to safely remove a
150-year-old paint layer covering part of a mid-seventeenth century
painting. The overpaint consists mainly of stand oil and lead white.
The original paint layers below are composed of large amounts of
smalt bound in a proteinaceous medium. This original paint layer is
extremely water-sensitive and very disrupted.

Suggestions for a safe method to remove the overpaint are much
appreciated.

Jurgen Wadum
Chief Conservator
Royal Cabinet of Paintings Mauritshuis
P.O. Box 536
2501 CM  The Hague
+31 70 302 3461
Fax: +31 70 365 3819


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:51
                 Distributed: Saturday, April 15, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-51-026
                                  ***