Weiß wie Gips? Die Behandlung der Oberflächen von Gipsabgüssen

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Since the Renaissance, plaster casts have been a key medium for reproducing historical sculptures, reaching their peak in the 19th century when extensive collections were created, often regarded as original art. However, in the early 20th century, plaster fell out of favor due to the unsightly appearance of older casts, leading to the destruction of many significant collections. Despite being an ideal casting material, plaster is sensitive to dust and challenging to clean, a concern that sparked discussions among experts as early as the 1870s, including international conferences on cleaning and conservation. To mark the 250th anniversary of its cast collection, the Archaeological Institute of the University of Göttingen reignited this debate through an international conference featuring curators, art historians, materials scientists, and restoration experts from eight countries. The 23 contributions published in this volume explore the presentation of various plaster casts, including greyed, material-imitating, and white-coated versions, within their collection histories. Cleaning methods discussed range from sponges and pastes to laser applications, and the removal of secondary paint layers is also examined. The examples include casts from university collections as well as major European museums and libraries, addressing both historical sculptures and original plaster works from the 19th and 20th centuries.