by Conservation

11/19/2020

CAMConservation , behind the scenes , conservation , stone conservation , archaeological conservation , objects conservation

This stone relief dates to 883-859 BCE and depicts a divine figure wearing a horned headdress.

by Conservation

11/12/2020

Frank Duveneck , CAMConservation , paintings conservation , palette , palette knife

A heavy layer of grime covered the surface of the thin wood panel and the remains of paint.

by Conservation

10/22/2020

behind the scenes , objects conservation , decorative arts , art conservation , gilding conservation , aluminum leaf , CAMConservation

This week in objects conservation we return to the 1920’s Paul Theodore Frankl mirror. The aluminum leaf on the base and frame is easily abraded and during its use, suffered from normal wear and tear.

by Conservation

10/15/2020

CAMConservation , behind the scenes , conservation , Lorenzo Zaragoza , paintings conservation , retablo , restoration , retablo of saint peter , altarpiece

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.

by Conservation

9/24/2020

CAMConservation , ceramics conservation , objects conservation

This ceramic lion has been in the lab getting ready for an upcoming gallery rotation, meaning when a group of works from our permanent collection are ‘rotated’ onto view in a gallery.

by Conservation

9/17/2020

Lining paintings , conservation science , conservation research , behind the scenes , CAMConservation

Along with many other areas of research, conservation scientists test the materials that conservators use in treating works of art.

by Conservation

9/10/2020

paper conservation , embossed print , imprint on paper , Étienne Hajdú , CAMConservation

An amazing transformation took place this summer in the Paper Lab.

by Conservation

8/20/2020

behind the scenes , conservation , Decorative Arts , furniture conservation , gilding conservation

This large decorative mirror was designed by Paul Theodore Frankl in the late 1920’s.

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.

by Conservation

8/6/2020

paper conservation , conservation , behind the scenes , 20th century , Marcel Duchamp , conservation internship , stained print , stained paper

In celebration of his 133rd birthday, let’s take a closer look at Duchamp’s intaglio print of a cubist-style coffee grinder currently undergoing conservation in the Paper Lab.

by Conservation

7/30/2020

textile conervation , costume conservation , behind the scenes , dyed to match , 1930s fashion

A bird's eye view in the textile conservation lab workbench this week brings us these pajama bottoms and a little of the mid-conservation chaos that goes into making them look their best.

by Conservation

7/22/2020

objects conservation , lacquered box , hidden objects , conservation , behind the scenes , conservation internship

The objects conservation lab is happy to welcome summer intern Nicole Schmidt, a graduate student from the Garman Art Conservation Department at SUNY Buffalo State in her third year of training.

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.

by Conservation

7/9/2020

paper conservation , Order of Cincinnatus , Eleventh Cincinnati Exposition , Panorama print , CAC Cincinnati , behind the scenes

This year the Cincinnati Art Museum is again supporting the Contemporary Arts Center by lending a book to their newly opened exhibit, “Tania Candiani: Sounding Labor, Silent Bodies”.

by Conservation

7/2/2020

objects conservation , textiles , behind the scenes , fashion , storage , padded hangers

Want to store your treasured fashion objects safely at home? If your objects are safe to hang, you can make your own padded hangers.

by Conservation

6/25/2020

behind the scenes , objects conservation , conservation , Lacquerware , chinese lacquer , chinese furniture

This week in objects conservation we are working on a 18thC Chinese lacquer table with shell inlay.

by Conservation

6/18/2020

Conservation , behind the scenes , Kita Kizuki , Tale of the Bamboo Cutter , Japanese painting , paper conservation , japanese scroll

Staff members have been very active in the museum galleries for the past month. One of the cases that was due for its regular rotation is the hanging scroll case in Gallery 138.

by Conservation

6/4/2020

conservation , behind the scenes , evening dress , textile conservation , silk dress

It’s working! In the textile conservation lab this week, our textile conservator has been working on preparing this silk dress for an upcoming exhibition.

by Conservation

5/28/2020

Jim Dine , Pinocchio , behind the scenes , conservation

This week in Objects Conservation we are outside with Pinocchio!

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.

by Conservation

5/14/2020

paper conservation , stained print , stained paper , Paul Albert Besnard

Our paper conservator has not been in the lab since March, but she is still working on the collection.

by Conservation

5/7/2020

textile conservation , behind the scenes , uphostery conservation , headboard , furnture

This padded headboard insert has a doppelganger. It is being prepared for an exhibition next year and came to the textile conservation lab for treatment.

by Conservation

4/30/2020

behind the scenes , objects conservation , korean lacquered chest , object conservation , record keeping

Did you know that one of the most important parts of conservation is keeping a detailed and thorough record of every treatment?

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.

by Conservation

4/16/2020

Lorna Simpson , women breaking boundaries , waterless lithography , light sensitivity , behind the scenes , conservation

For those of you who saw Women Breaking Boundaries before the museum had to close its galleries, you would have seen the wall-sized piece by Lorna Simpson, Wigs.

by Conservation

4/9/2020

textile conservation , behind , fiber art , textile art

What is a “textile” anyway? Take Color for a Spin is a fiber sculpture made of crocheted forms stiffened with a coating and strung together with wire.

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.