The University of Kansas
Spencer Museum of Art
Conservation Issues: Mat Burn or Light-struck Print
Sir Francis Seymour Haden
United Kingdom, 1818-1910
A Sketch off Greenwich, 1879
Etching, 77 mm x 165 mm
Gift of George and Annette Cross Murphy, 89.163
The severe stains on this print were caused by the chemicals in the poor quality mat made of ground wood pulp. The effect of the chemicals leeching out from the core of the mat board through the cut in the window mat can clearly be seen in this print (notice the brown stain that follows the contours of the window in the mat). The effects may be more severe within the window area because this area was also exposed to light.
