The treatment of the damaged bronze of Rodin's the Thinker from the Singer Museum in Laren, the Netherlands: an innovative approach

This paper will discuss the innovative treatment of a severely vandalised bronze sculpture, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, from the Singer Museum in Laren, The Netherlands. It gives a step-by-step account of the practical work undertaken to restore the sculpture, as well as an insight into some of the technology used. Additional aspects of this complex treatment, such as decision-making and documentation are also discussed. A variety of analytical techniques were employed to identify the materials and casting method of this well known bronze. These methods ranged from X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) to tensile strength testing of the alloy. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the complex treatment and gives recommendations for similar future treatments.