Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of Lincoln
Covent Garden Market building: selected elements [architectural paint research]
Context:
This research informed redevelopment of Covent Garden Market. Phase one (March 2008) re-evaluated the current decorative scheme of the south hall, phase two (January 2011) examined one area of the central arcade and combined these elements into a decorative history of the building.
The research resides in:
Site visits and sampling allowed researchers to use their knowledge of historic sites to select appropriate samples (main report p.6,7,8)
Microscopic analysis revealed patterns in the paint stratigraphy allowing individual paints to be identified (main report p.16,17,18,20,21)
Site Analysis allowed researchers to evaluate the microscopic analysis in the context of the physical evidence of changes to the interiors (main report p. 3,15,17,18)
Collation of the paint sample analysis in tabular form allowed analysis of the decorative scheme as a whole and enabled researchers to identify patterns in the decorative scheme at various periods (main report p 9,10)
Insights included:
• The earliest extant decorative scheme from 1828-30, was identified on a shop front and suggest warm cream oil paints (main report p.12)
• The stone collonade in the Central Arcade was unpainted until scheme 10 (c. 1870s) when it was painted in cream oil paint (main report p.12)
• The cast iron columns in the north and south halls were originally a dark red- brown colour and the roof superstructure was painted pale green (main report p.12)
• Scheme 13 shows the Market Hall reaching its current configuration and is the most appropriate scheme to reinstate (main report, p.12)
Sharing:
The research was commissioned by Peter Riddington, Donald Insall & Associates and shared with them through two reports.
Contribution:
Ian Crick-Smith was principal investigator for historical and architectural research, paint techniques and sampling strategy. He was co-author of the reports and co-researcher for paint stratigraphy and interpretation of research findings.
