Uncovering an Architectural Gem: The Treatment of the Painted Plaster Walls in the Library of 1 West Mount Vernon Place

Hulman et al focu on the renovation of the painted plaster walls in the Library of 1 West Mount Vernon Place at Walters Art Museum. The need for updated fire-suppression systems provided the opportunity for the museum to deinstall the building and reconsider its interpretive use. Rather than a series of galleries used to display artwork, the building was reconceived as a space where the beauty of the neo-classical architecture and the history of the house were a central theme. The Department of Conservation and Technical Research was asked to remove fabric paneling from the library walls so that it could be replaced, and they were surprised to see that the original painted ornamental plaster was largely intact, although damaged, behind the fabric. A conservation treatment project soon developed to conserve the original walls so that they could be viewed and enjoyed by the visiting public.