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Conservation Treatment of the Mail Coach Attacked by Bandits Mural by William Palmer
In March 2012, GSA National Capital Region's Paintings Conservator, Olin Conservation, did a comprehensive assessment of the Mail Coach Attacked by Bandits mural by artist William Palmer. During the assessment it became evident that the adhesive bond behind the canvas had failed, and the paint became unstable. This conservation project includes surface cleaning the mural, stabilizing the pain, and addressing loss of paint.
The Overland Mail Company advertised its stagecoach journey as 24 days, but stagecoaches were often subject to extreme delays. Stagecoaches also carried payrolls, bank transfers, gold bars, and passengers, making them prime targets for highwaymen. In 1881 alone, there was on average one stagecoach robbery every four days. To protect their cargo, stagecoach companies employed armed guards, known as shotgun messengers, to ride alongside the drivers. Yet while bandits targeted stagecoaches for their valuable gold bullion, they rarely robbed individuals of their personal possessions. |