by Conservation

4/2/2020

ceramics conservation , objects conservation , porcelain , capillary action , behind the scenes , cup , saucer

This set is made of porcelain with very thin, translucent walls and a gilt fruit and vine design.

by Conservation

3/26/2020

paintings conservation , behind the scenes , american art , landscapes

This painting is a nineteenth century American landscape that has suffered multiple tears in the course of its lifetime, probably due to the poor quality of the canvas.

by Conservation

3/19/2020

Martin Schongauer , beta radiography , watermarks , paper conservation , transmitted light

Our paper conservator has been in the darkroom capturing images of watermarks from some of our Old Master prints.

by Conservation

3/12/2020

in pretty finery , textile conservation , historic dress , dunlevy , behind the scenes

Check out this behind the scenes look from our conservators.

by Conservation

3/5/2020

behind the scenes , conservation , objects conservation , lacquered chest , concealed objects , hidden objects

This week in objects conservation we open up the 19th C Lacquered chest.

by Conservation

2/27/2020

sisley , Impressionism , paintings conservation , varnish removal , yellowed varnish , behind the scenes , conservation

This beautiful landscape by Impressionist Alfred Sisley was recently being cleaned of its varnish by our paintings conservator.

by Conservation

2/20/2020

conservation , photography conservation , Camera Work Magazine , Photogravure , Photomechanical reproduction , Gertrude Käsebier

The objects in the Women Breaking Boundaries exhibit in the galleries across from the café are examples of wide-ranging media, including light-sensitive objects.

by Conservation

2/6/2020

objects conservation , ceramics , Pottery

This week in objects conservation: this early 1920’s porcelain bowl is in the lab for cleaning and repair.

by Conservation

1/30/2020

hassam , Impressionism , impressionist , conservation , paintings conservation , behind the scenes

One of the perks of being a conservator is of course spending many hours up-close-and-personal with great art.

by Conservation

1/16/2020

textile conservation , Comme des Garcons , behind the scenes , conservation , fashion , textiles , recent acquisitions , new at cam , jacket , dress , tank top , clothing

In a few weeks, we are installing some recent acquisitions from CAM’s fashion collection in Gallery 150.

by Conservation

1/9/2020

gilt furniture , furniture conservation , rococo , art conservation , behind the scenes

This week in objects conservation we return to the 1740’s Rococo gilt table.

by Conservation

12/12/2019

Thomas Wilmer Dewing , Maria Oakey Dewing , inpainting , overpaint , retouching , paintings conservation , conservation , behind the scenes

Conservation of this painting on wood panel by the Dewing husband-and-wife team was undertaken because the retouching on the painting had discolored.

by Conservation

12/5/2019

Robert Blum , William Merritt Chase , paper conservation , conservation , behind the scenes

This drawing recently came to the paper lab to have some old paper remnants removed. The drawing is on the back of a letter, and some of the writing was obscured.

by Conservation

11/21/2019

conservation , women breaking boundaries , conservation history , power of her , CAM archives , behind the scenes

CAM is proud to have one of the oldest art conservation labs in the country which started with a single, part-time paintings conservator in 1935.

by Conservation

11/14/2019

behind the scenes , objects conservation , furniture , rococo

This 1740’s French Rococo gilt table is in the lab receiving treatment for an upcoming exhibition in 2021.

by Conservation

11/8/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , Thomas Wilmer Dewing , paintings conservation , oil on panel , Maria Oakey Dewing , X-ray , X-radiography , X-raying_paintings , Google Art Project

This tall narrow painting by a husband-and-wife pair is in the paintings conservation studio for removal of varnish and discolored retouching.

by Conservation

10/31/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , Twatchman , letter , John Henry Twachtman , paper conservation

Oil paintings do not usually come to the Paper Lab, but occasionally the conservators share projects, and that is the case here.

by Conservation

10/24/2019

conservation , textile conservation , behind the scenes , Joseph Urban

A steady hand and a sharp eye are key for the repair currently underway of this painted silk taffeta bedspread in the textile conservation lab.

by Conservation

10/17/2019

objects conservation , behind the scenes , korean lacquered chest , conservation , the wonders of east asian lacquer

This week in Objects Conservation: An update on the treatment of our 19th C Korean lacquered chest.

by Conservation`

10/10/2019

behind the scenes , paintings conservation , conservation , Childe Hassam

Our paintings conservator has been cleaning this idyllic view of the Seine for the past few days.

by Conservation

10/3/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , objects conservation , William Blake , book , the tyger , songs of innocence and experience

Over the summer the paper conservator prepared two William Blake works for travel to an important exhibit at the Tate Britain in London. Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience is a collection of hand colored relief etchings of his poems first published in 1789 and 1794.

by Conservation

9/26/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , textiles , Ragsby Dollyver , Laura H. Turpin

In textile conservation, work was recently completed on “Ragsby Dollyver,” a “portrait” rag doll by Laura Turpin that may be the artist’s self-portrait.

by Conservation

9/23/2019

objects conservation , conservation , incense burner , behind the scenes

These two separate fragments from a stone incense burner have been in the collection since 1939.

by Conservation

9/12/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , Frank Duveneck , Frank Duveneck: American Master , paintings conservation

Conservation for the upcoming Duveneck exhibition continues apace.

by Conservation

8/29/2019

conservation , behind the scenes , ceramics , petra

These two 1st Century CE ceramics from Petra are in the objects lab receiving conservation.

by Conservation

8/15/2019

Duveneck , photography , paintings conservation , behind the scenes

Sometimes a painting can make its feelings known.

by Conservation

8/8/2019

Helmut Federle , behind the scenes , paper conservation

Sometimes an artist presents us with something that looks good from the front, but when we turn it over we notice that there are problems that can’t be seen when the art is hanging on a wall.

by Conservation

8/1/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , asian art , haori , textile conservation , garment , Japanese Art

This Japanese garment, or haori, recently went on display in the Asian Gallery.

by Conservation

7/25/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , sasanian panels , objects conservation

These two 5-6th C stucco panels are in the lab for treatment.

by Conservation

7/18/2019

Mantegna , monochrome , distemper , Italian Renaissance , behind the scenes , conservation

Our Italian masterpiece A Sibyl and a Prophet by Andrea Mantegna, dated to around 1495, has been in the paintings conservation lab for treatment.