Phoebus

Description

A commercial formulation composed primarily of Mineral oil mixed with Copaiba balsam promoted by Büttner-Pfanner in 1897. Phoebus used used to 'regenerate' oil paintings by removing surface bloom. However, it primarily worked only by changing the refractive index of the surface layer. Once placed on the painting, it could not be completely removed. Some Phoebus mixtures contain Chloroform which also softened the oil paint.

Synonyms and Related Terms

vaseline oil; Phoebus oil; Phöbus oil