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.

by Conservation

7/11/2019

behind the scenes , Portrait Miniatures , conservation , Alyn Williams , paintings

Later this month a group of portrait miniatures will go on view highlighting women artists and subjects.

by Conservation

7/3/2019

behind the scenes , textiles , conservation , gown , Kimono: Refashioning Contemporary Style

Can you find the conservation that has been carried out for this silk chiffon gown from the 1920s?

by Conservation

6/27/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , korean lacquered chest , 19th century , objects conservation

This week in Objects Conservation: a 19th C Korean lacquered chest.

by Caroline Shaver

6/19/2019

behind the scenes , Frank Duveneck , conservation , American Painting

Conservation preparation for the upcoming Duveneck exhibition (opening Fall 2020).

by Conservation

6/13/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , paper conservation , indian painting , carl bimel collection

This month a new group of paintings is on display in the Indian gallery.

by Conservation

5/30/2019

Joseph Urban , 1920s desk lamps , behind the scenes , conservation

This week the objects conservator is working on an unusual project requiring the skills of an electrician.

by Conservation

5/23/2019

panting conservation , infrared , infrared imaging , duveneck , underdrawing , underpainting , infrared photography , behind the scenes

This large unfinished work by Frank Duveneck is in the paintings conservation lab to be examined.

by Conservation

5/16/2019

keisai eisen , kimono , bijin-ga , paper conservation , conservation , behind the scenes , stations of the tokai road

A group of Japanese prints depicting women wearing elaborate garments was recently in the paper lab.

by Conservation

5/9/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , objects conservation , No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man , Goddess of the Silver Spike , Autumn Adamme , Kalico Delafay

Sometimes dirt is part of an object's unique story.

by Conservation

5/2/2019

objects conservation , art conservation , museum conservation , japanese art , japanese tobacco box , behind the scenes , conservation

It is hard to imagine this arrangement of wooden fragments as a three-dimensional object, that’s why it has been in the conservation lab receiving some much needed attention.

by Conservation

4/26/2019

paintings , conservation , inpainting , Isaak Soreau , flemish still life , flyspecks , insects

Sometimes our paintings conservator might find an ancient flyspeck on a painting.

by Conservation

4/18/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , James W. and Mary Louise McLaughlin , Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives , paper conservation , archival conservation

Between doing conservation treatments for upcoming exhibitions, our paper conservator and her intern are working on a group of documents from the Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives.

by Conservation

4/11/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , Dollyver , textile conservation

What does the 1850 census have to do with textile conservation? And this rag doll?

by Conservation

3/28/2019

behind the scenes , conservation , Walter Schofield , black light , paintings conservation

In the course of examining this early 20th century painting by American Impressionist Walter Schofield, our paintings conservator noticed a curious thing.