Josh McCauley, Associate Conservator of Frames and Gilding

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The Conservation Center

Associate Conservator of Frames & Gilded Objects 2008-Present

• Responsible for preservation and treatment of picture frames and gilded objects
• Consolidation of gesso, gilding, polychrome staining, and finished surfaces
• Compensation of loose or missing decoration in wood, plaster, and compo
• Used traditional and modern materials to ingild lost or abraded gilt surfaces

Apprentice to Steve Starling, Senior Frame Conservator (formerly of The Art Institute of Chicago), The Conservation Center, 2006-2008

RELATED PROJECTS

George I Period Gilt Gesso Table with Marble Top, c. 1725

• Lower third of the gesso and gilding layers were lost due to flood damage in Hurricane Katrina
• Consolidated water and humidity damage
• Applied new gesso layer to the lower two thirds of all four legs; defined gesso by recutting and new punch work.
• Ingilded areas of loss by water gilding with 22kt gold, then lightly abraded ingilding to match the original patina and toned with shellac and pigments

Pair of Carved and Gilded Console Tables in the Manner of William Kent, c. 1735

• Lower third of the gesso and gilding layers were lost due to flood damage in Hurricane Katrina
• Consolidated water and humidity damage
• Applied new gesso layer to the lower two thirds of all four legs; defined gesso by recutting
• Ingilded areas of loss by water gilding with 22kt gold, then lightly abraded ingilding to match the original patina and toned with shellac and pigments

Gilded Federal Frame with Large Scotia, Twisted Rope, and Reeded face, Gilbert Stuart 1801-1802

• Removed bronze over paint throughout the entire surface
• Consolidated gesso/gilt layer
• Compensated gesso losses
• Ingilded areas of loss by water gilding with 23.5 kt gold
• Toned areas of ingilding with shellac

Louis XV-style Gilded Portrait Frame with Applied Composite, William S. Conely, c. 1840-1850

• Treated frame by William S. Conely, noted frame maker to artist Thomas Cole
• Conducted complete removal of bronze over paint
• Consolidated compo, gesso and gilt layers
• Extensively reconstructed missing applied compo elements
• Gesso work of newly cast elements and small loss areas
• Water gilt areas to be burnished; oil gilt inner recesses
• Inpainted with PVA paints and toned with shellac

19^th Century Carved and Gilt Louis IV Revival Frame for Georges Braque’s “Still Life with Plums”

• Stabilized structural components
• Consolidated gesso and gilt layers

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC)

Society of Gilders (SOG)

EDUCATION

American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL

1996-2001

The Modular Cleaning Program: A Systematic Approach to Cleaning Artworks

Instructor: Chris Stavroudis; Paintings conservator in Private Practice, LA

2008