Paintings and Sculptures

Conservation of a sculpture

These objects are particularly challenging for conservators since their complex surfaces have often been reduced to extremely thin, extremely fragile layers of material and must be carefully examined and maintained.

In the case of paintings, an added problem comes from the fact that the material onto which the medium has been applied is often entirely different in its physical make-up. This means that fluctuations in ambient temperature and humidity can lead to tensions and shifts in the layers of paint, and thus to damage, or on occasion to the total loss of the painted surface.