HC Deb 02 June 1959 vol 606 c5
6. Mr. Strauss

asked the Minister of Works whether he will have the two large wall paintings in the Royal Gallery cleaned.

Mr. H. Nicholls

No, Sir. These paintings were cleaned last year and do not yet require further cleaning.

Mr. Strauss

Has the Parliamentary Secretary looked at them recently? Is he aware that they are both so dark that it is quite difficult to tell which represents Trafalgar and which Waterloo? As these paintings are of considerable interest to visitors to the House, cannot the hon. Gentleman take some steps to have them properly cleaned?

Mr. Nicholls

I understand the reaction of the right hon. Gentleman. I looked at these paintings carefully when his Question appeared on the Order Paper. Apparently the trouble is in the paint itself. The chemical changes in the content of the paint have made the pictures fade. There is no question of their being cleaned to bring out the colours again. This is not a new question; it was the subject of reports in 1895, 1896 and 1906. It is not just a matter of cleaning, but of the chemical deterioration of the paint itself, which gives the faded appearance which I recognise exists.

Mr. Strauss

Does that mean that they cannot be made cleaner than they are today? They are useless now.

Mr. Nicholls

It means that the only solution would be to have them repainted. They cannot be restored by cleaning, so to restore them completely would be terribly expensive.