All the latest research from staff and students.
Dr Lynda Skipper, from the department of Conservation and Restoration, is currently working on two main research projects. One is the analysis of the contents of a historic paint box, which is being carried out jointly with a volunteer in the conservation department, Natalia Sancho Cubino. The label says that is was given to John Opie, a British artist specialising in portraits and historical scenes, by the Royal Academy in 1806. In 1805 Opie became a Professor of the Royal Academy and gave a series of lectures in 1806, a year before his death. I have been studying some of the remaining pigments from the box to answer the question of whether they are likely to still be the original pigments, or if they are later replacements.
Her other project is looking at the bacterial colonisation of stonework, in particular Lincoln Limestone. In a joint project with Philip Skipper (Department of Life Sciences) we have characterised types of bacteria living in biofilms on Lincoln Cathedral and one local church, St Peter at Gowts, in High Street, Lincoln. This research looked at differences in bacterial colonisation of damaged and undamaged stonework, in conjunction with surface acidity and dampness. From our data, we are now continuing that work by carrying out tests looking at the effectiveness of biocides on the different bacterial species found, and investigating the colonisation rates of new stone. Lynda will be presenting this work at an international historic buildings conference in Portugal, in March 2014.
From left: Philip Skipper, Neil Bywater (conservator, Lincoln Cathedral), and Lynda Skipper.