« La magie du papier mise en lumière ». Conservation-restauration d'une série de douze vues de polyorama panoptique, vers 1850 (Cinémathèque française, Paris) : recherche sur la transparence des matériaux de consolidation du papier en lumière transmise -…

This INP last year project is about the conservation of a twelve polyorama panoptique viewing slides serie from la Cinémathèque française (initially stored at the Conservatoire des Techniques cinématographiques in Paris). These objects are a major step in more than three centuries of inventions which directly leaded to the Cinématographes from the Lumière brothers. By a change of the orientation of the light (from reflected to transmitted light) inside the show box, the views create an illusion of day and night and changing scenery before the viewer’s eyes. The main problematic appears because some of the views show large tears and losses which is a problem for their correct viewing under the two light orientations. Our study was about the research of a system matérial/adhesive that would be the most transparent in transmetted light, the more stable under ageing and compatible with the paper of the views. Five adhesives and four very thin papers, generally used in paper conservation, were tested and compared to a new material which was never tested in conservation : the nanocellulose (Microfibrillated Cellulose). Different types of films were made in the BnF scientific lab and the most adapted was selected. Once the tests were done, it seems that this new material is the most adapted to the problematic and then was used during conservation treatments. At the end of our study, to test the photosensibility of the colors used on the views (enssentially watercolors with dying base) and to establish exhibition recommendations asked by the museum, we used a new technic of analysis : the “microfading”.