Hello Marvin:
Well, I see what you are saying is from your point of view, however, the addition of Damar Varnish into a painting medium is, by my point of view, just fine.
I ascribe to a more traditional method of painting and my medium contains both Damar and Venice Turpentine. These ingredients, when mixed with Stand Oil and Rectified Turpentine, make a medium which suits my process perfectly. As the medium contains Damar, I too was concerned about putting a final varnish of damar over the painting as there might be an overzealous conservator some day who could clean right through to my undertones. This I have found, however, is not really of too much concern and I have mitigated the risk. Here is how:
First, the experiment: I painted napthol red light on a panel using my medium. I let it dry for 6 months. Then, I divided the panel in half and varnished one half with Damar (the natural final varnish), the other with Gamvar (the synthetic final varnish). I am seven months on from that event and at 6 months, I did a test on a small portion of each side. Using Rectified Turpentine, a somewhat harsh solvent by cleaning standards, I removed the varnish easily enough on both sides without pulling up any red. Further, I had to scrub quite firmly in order to get any red at all to come off. This tells me that the Stand Oil and Venice Turp in my medium are doing their job strengthening the paint film. No conservator is ever going to rub that hard - I sleep well at night now.
Second - I don't varnish with Damar: As the Damar ages, it will get harder to remove and yellow slightly. For this reason, and the fact that I don't want any possibility of cross-linking with my paint film, I varnish with Gamvar instead of Damar - it is easier to remove, and shouldn't yellow like Damar.
I believe that if you understand your materials, and prove your understanding by doing your own experiments, you can make paintings that will indeed last for 300+ years.
Toxicity: There is indeed toxicity to oil painting materials. For me, I understand the materials enough to use them safely. Others may make a differing choice. If you replace the air in your studio with turpentine fumes, it will indeed harm you. But opening a window and keeping your turps covered when not in use will protect you from any harmful effects. I use a HEPA filter in my studio and leave a window constantly cracked if not full open. There is more danger from neighbor's cigarette smoke wafting in than from the air in the room.
BTW: Love your work. Wonderful mastery of form.
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