Care of Paintings

Module Synopsis

This module provides information on the structure, materials, and deterioration of paintings on canvas and rigid supports, and on the basic principles and techniques involved in the care and preservation of paintings. It covers the properties and characteristic defects of the materials used in paintings, the causes of deterioration, preventive conservation measures during storage, display, and transportation, and basic care interventions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to:

• understand the structure, materials, and characteristic defects of paintings
• recognize signs of instability that require professional intervention
• understand the agents of deterioration and propose preventive conservation measures to reduce damage during handling, storage, display, and transportation
• examine paintings, assess their condition, and write condition reports
• undertake basic cleaning such as dusting paintings and frames, and apply appropriate backing boards and framing methods

Units

Structure and Composition
Materials and techniques used in traditional paintings. Characteristic appearances, properties, vulnerabilities, and defects of specific media.

Deterioration
Internal and external agents of deterioration. Inherent vice, or the use of materials and techniques that contribute to premature deterioration or ongoing instability. External agents of deterioration including direct physical forces (such as those that occur during handling, framing, transportation, storage, and display), vandalism, fire, pests, contaminants, radiation (light), temperature, and relative humidity.

Handling, Examination, and Documentation
Examination techniques using different lighting conditions. Various condition report forms. Safe handling practices. Hands-on sessions.

Preventive Conservation
A variety of preventive conservation topics are reviewed, including: light; environmental conditions of relative humidity and temperature; environmental monitoring equipment; handling; storage; display; and wrapping, packing, and transit.

Interventions
Basic preventive conservation interventions including dusting of paintings and frames, precautions regarding keying-out, application of backing boards, framing techniques, and minor frame repair. Hands-on practice.

Target Audience
Museum and gallery staff, volunteers, curators responsible for the care of paintings, faculty and students of art history or museology, artists, and art teachers.

Facilitator(s)
Wendy Baker, Debra Daly Hartin, Helen McKay

Language
English, French

Enrollment Limits
Minimum 10; maximum 16

Duration
2 days

Special Requirements

The workshop area should be secure and inaccessible to gallery visitors or the general public. It is ideal (but not absolutely necessary) if the lecture and workshop areas are separate. The workshop area must have good light and it must be possible to darken the lecture area to permit the viewing of projected images. A list of specific equipment is available.

Customization Options

Customization to provide greater emphasis on certain aspects of preventive conservation over basic interventions is offered. The host institution may take the opportunity to highlight an aspect of their institution or programming such as a new storage facility or an innovative installation.

In combination with this workshop it may be possible to present a 2-hour evening session on the care of paintings (perhaps including a description of a few conservation treatments) or on the permanence of artists' materials and techniques for the general public.