Jan Dariusz Cutajar

Student - Faculty of Humanities

Norwegian version of this page

Email j.d.cutajar@iakh.uio.no

Room 1.22

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Visiting address Blindernveien 11

Postal address Postboks 1079 Blindern 0316 Oslo

Other affiliations Conservation

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Academic interests

Conservation disciplines:

Sustainable practice in conservation;
Conservation public engagement and outreach;
Conservation science, including heritage imaging techniques.

Conservation material-related fields:

Objects conservation;
Decorative surfaces;
Furniture and wood conservation;
Archaeological field conservation;
Monumental canvas paintings.

Ongoing Research

JAN DARIUSZ CUTAJAR is a Marie Składowska-Curie Early Stage Researcher within the EU's CHANGE-ITN network, hosted as a doctoral research fellow in Conservation Studies at the Department of Archeology, Conservation and History (IAKH) at the University of Oslo (UiO), Norway. His research project focuses on the imaging-based documentation and change monitoring of novel dry-cleaning methods for Edvard Munch's unvarnished oil paintings at the UiO Aula.

Academic Background

2019- (2022): University of Oslo / PhD Research Fellow in Conservation Studies
2014-2016: University College London / MSc in Conservation for Archeology & Museums
2013-2014: University College London / MA in Principles of Conservation
2009-2012: University of Malta, Bishop's University (Quebec) / BSc (Hons) in Chemistry

Professional Background

2019- (ongoing): Conservation of Kushite tombs in El Kurru, Sudan in joint project with the University of Michigan and Boston MFA;
2017- (ongoing): Lead conservator working with the Institut Francais de l'Archeologie Orientale in Cairo on the PERCEA Bois and EBENES projects focusing on ancient wood conservation.
2018-2019: Founder of JD Cutajar Conservation, objects conservation workshop in Amsterdam, Netherlands;
2016-2018: Research Assistant to National Trust Advisor on Archaeological Conservation, Dr Dean Sully;
2016-2018: Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at UCL's Institute of Archeology;
2016-2018: Freelance objects conservator (working principally at NT Knole, UK).

Tags: Conservation, Conservation Science

Grøntoft, Terje & Cutajar, Jan Dariusz (2023). The role of SVOCs in the initial film formation and soiling of unvarnished paintings. Heritage Science. ISSN 2050-7445. 11(1). doi: 10.1186/s40494-023-01115-y. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
In recent years increased research efforts and environmental improvements have been directed towards the preventive conservation of the monumental, unvarnished oil paintings on canvas (1909–1916) by Edvard Munch (1863–1944) housed in the University of Oslo Aula. Surface soiling of the paintings has been a documented issue since their display, and the modern-day effect of air-borne particulates and gases on the painting surfaces remains hitherto undocumented. For the first time in the Aula, this study has measured the in-situ time-dependent mass deposit of air pollution onto vertical surfaces over the period of one year (2021–2022). Concomitant measurements of the concentrations of ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were also taken, to complement periodic data from 2020. The mass deposit was measured through incremental weight changes of Teflon membrane filters, and quartz filters for analysis of elemental/organic carbon (EC/OC), whilst the gaseous pollutants were measured using passive gas samplers. Indoor-to-outdoor ratios (I/O) for O3 were noted to be higher than those suggested by earlier data, whereas NO2 I/O ratios were found to be lower, indicating a stronger oxidising atmosphere in the Aula. Just over half of the deposited mass on the quartz filters was found to be OC, with no EC detected. Surprisingly, an overall decrease in the mass deposit from three to twelve months was measured on the Teflon membrane filters. It was hypothesised, based on models reported in the literature, that the source of the OC on the filters was mainly gaseous, semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), which were present in an adsorption/desorption equilibrium that was dependent on possible SVOC emission episodes, relative humidity levels, gaseous oxidative reactions and the particulate matter deposit. A simple mathematical model is proposed to rationalise the observed mass deposits on the filters, together with a discussion of uncertainties affecting the measurements. The hypothesis preliminarily indicates the possible and previously unconsidered role of SVOCs on the initial film formation of soiling layers on the Aula paintings, and could bear implications for their monitoring in the preventive care of unvarnished oil paintings on canvas.
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Babini, Agnese; Deborah, Hilda; Hardeberg, Jon Yngve; Joseph, Edith & Frøysaker, Tine (2022). Hyperspectral Imaging Analyses of Cleaning Tests on Edvard Munch's Monumental Aula Paintings. Studies in Conservation. ISSN 0039-3630. 67(1), p. 59–68. doi: 10.1080/00393630.2022.2054617. Full text in Research Archive
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Hatchfield, Pamela; Batkin-Hall, Janelle; Bourse, Camille & Mayberger, Evelyn (2021). Conservation and preservation strategies for royal painted tombs in Kurru, Sudan: Acknowledging the past while planning for the future. In Bridgland, Janet (Eds.), Transcending boundaries : Integrated approaches to conservation : ICOM-CC 19th Triennial Conference Preprints, Beijing 17-21 May 2021. International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC). ISSN 9782491997144. p. 1–9.
Hatchfield, Pamela; Batkin-Hall, Janelle; Bourse, Camille; Cutajar, Jan Dariusz & Mayberger, Evelyn (2020). Working together: community, conservation, and preservation strategies for royal painted tombs at El-Kurru, Sudan. . Studies in Conservation. ISSN 0039-3630. p. 132–138. doi: 10.1080/00393630.2020.1783165.
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz (2019). Kussenkasten in the Dutch golden age: technical insights into Knole’s ebony kussenkast from a conservation perspective. . Furniture History. ISSN 0016-3058. p. 51–70.
Bristow, Hana & Cutajar, Jan Dariusz (2017). Archaeological Glass Conservation: Comparative Approaches and Practicalities of Using Acrylic Resin Films as Gap Fills. AIC Objects Specialty Group Postprints. ISSN 2169-1290. 24, p. 188–206.
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Duckor, Abigail; Sully, Dean & Fredheim, L. Harald (2016). A significant statement: new outlooks on treatment documentation. Journal of the Institute of Conservation. ISSN 1945-5224. 39(2), p. 81–97. doi: 10.1080/19455224.2016.1212717.

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Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Steindal, Calin Constantin; Joseph, Edith; Caruso, Francesco; Hardeberg, Jon Yngve & Frøysaker, Tine (2023). Spectral- and image-based documentation metrics for the evaluation of conservation cleaning treatments. Archiving Conference. ISSN 2161-8798.
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Babini, Agnese; Deborah, Hilda; Hardeberg, Jon Yngve; Joseph, Edith & Frøysaker, Tine (2022). Hyperspectral imaging analyses of cleaning tests on Edvard Munch’s monumental Aula paintings.
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Grillini, Federico; Babini, Agnese; Hardeberg, Jon Yngve & Frøysaker, Tine (2022). n situ hyperspectral imaging of monumental oil paintings: a practical approach for acquisitions on scaffolding and post-processing guidelines for conservators .
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Hardeberg, Jon Yngve; Joseph, Edith & Frøysaker, Tine (2022). Hyperspectral-based documentation of cleaning tests on Munch’s monumental Aula paintings: PCA, NDI and NMF maps.
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Joseph, Edith; Hardeberg, Jon Yngve; Steindal, Calin Constantin & Frøysaker, Tine (2022). Spectral imaging for cleaning paintings. Mapping soiling removal by rigid agar gel spray from unvarnished oil paint mock-ups of Munch's monumental Aula paintings.
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; joseph, edith; Hardeberg, Jon Yngve; Steindal, Calin Constantin & Frøysaker, Tine (2022). Cleaning unvarnished oil paint mock-ups. Spectral imaging maps for assessing soiling removal.
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz; Hardeberg, Jon Yngve; Joseph, Edith & Frøysaker, Tine (2020). MUNCH: Monitoring Munch’s monumental unvarnished oil paintings – exploring novel change documentation methods and cleaning techniques using hyperspectral imaging. .
Cutajar, Jan Dariusz (2018). Breathing new life into Knole's kussenkast. .

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Published Sep. 17, 2019 10:39 AM - Last modified Oct. 11, 2019 2:42 PM

Projects

The Munch Aula Paintings project (MAP)