While the paintings conservation studio is under renovation, we thought you might like a look at an example of the choices that conservators can face.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Some UV protection!

by Conservation

8/13/2020

Varnish removal , paintings conservation , Nicolas Lancret , French Rococo , rococo pastoral , 17th century French painting , ultraviolet , UV light , behind the scenes

Conservation of “The Swing” by Nicolas Lancret is moving along.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: A sneak peek!

by Conservation

7/16/2020

behind the scenes , paintings conservation , Varnish removal , Nicolas Lancret , French Rococo , rococo pastoral , 17th century French painting

These days, our paintings conservator is working on a painting that, as you can see, is long overdue for cleaning.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Quarantined in traction!

by Conservation

5/21/2020

paintings conservation , painting stretcher , Robert Frederick Blum , canvas tension

Here’s a conservation treatment that has continued during the stay-at-home period for our paintings conservator.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Some forensic findings

by Conservation

4/23/2020

Bonnard , paintings conservation , behind the scenes , oil sketch , technical art history

When this landscape by Pierre Bonnard went out on loan to another museum a few years ago, our paintings conservator only had time to surface-clean it, to remove the dust and grime that was on the surface.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Nineteenth Century American Landscape

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.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Yellow quashes violet!

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.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: The perks of being a conservator!

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.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Overpainting vs. inpainting

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.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: A Mysterious Appearance

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.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: A visit to Paris!

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.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Filling up with Duveneck!

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.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Ready for his close-up?

by Conservation

8/15/2019

Duveneck , photography , paintings conservation , behind the scenes

Sometimes a painting can make its feelings known.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: A black light revelation!

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.