by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

11/2/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Thomas Gainsborough

These three portraits by 18th-century British artist Thomas Gainsborough are in the paintings conservation lab to be examined for the British catalog project.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

10/5/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , panel paintings

This small round painting, attributed to the studio of the 17th century Dutch artist Frans Hals, was recently in the paintings conservation lab to have its discolored varnish removed.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

8/10/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Theodore Robinson , Impressionism , American Impressionism

We’ve had this painting by American Impressionist Theodore Robinson (1852–1896) listed for varnish removal for a while. That’s because curators and conservators know that Impressionist artists rarely varnished their paintings.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

7/5/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Thomas Barker , CAM British Painting catalog , CAM British Paintings

Another work recently conserved for the British catalog project, The Approaching Storm by English artist Thomas Barker (1769–1847), presented a challenge.

by Kristopher Reisser, Conservation Intern

6/8/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , cam intern , mather brown , portrait , European Paintings

When I read the curatorial file for this painting, I discovered a remarkably expansive biography, not just of the painting itself, but also of the sitter and the artist. What is most interesting to me, though, is the sitter’s story.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

5/11/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , hopper

We recently cleaned Sunlight on Prospect Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts by Edward Hopper (1882–1967).

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

4/13/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Impressionism , Pierre Auguste Renoir

Painted by the French Impressionist Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841–1919), Fog on Guernsey recently paid a visit to our lab for cleaning—and it let us in on a charming secret.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

3/16/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , British portraiture

This portrait of an anonymous lady by an anonymous British artist was so dirty that only the most basic details were visible before conservation.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

2/16/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Sir Joshua Reynolds , portrait , British catalog project , European Paintings

These three portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds (British, 1723–1792) have come out of storage and into the conservation lab for the museum’s British catalog project . They are due to be examined, and perhaps treated, before heading to our photography department for high resolution imaging.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

1/19/2023

paintings conservation , CAMConservation , Selden

Before the work was shipped to the museum from out of state, our curator of American art, Julie Aronson, PhD, contacted a professionally trained paintings conservator in that region to examine it. He noted a few areas with cracks and lifting paint that might be jeopardized during transport. With permission from the owner , the conservator applied the three tissue paper patches you see here to make sure that no paint flakes were lost in transit.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

12/15/2022

Cezanne , X-ray , CAMConservation , paintings conservation

A few months ago, I posted about the complicated surface coatings on Cézanne’s Still Life with Bread and Eggs.” But what was going on under the surface was even more of a surprise.

by Conservation

10/6/2022

CAMConservation , Manet , paintings , paintings conservation

Look for the recently conserved painting in our gallery soon.

by Conservation

9/15/2022

CAMConservation , paintings , Paul Cezanne , still lifes , paintings conservation

Look for Bread and Eggs (and onions!) to return to the permanent galleries soon.

by Conservation

8/18/2022

Murillo , paintings , paintings conservation , CAMConservation , framing

The last step of conserving the large 7’ x 5’ painting by Murillo has arrived.

by

6/23/2022

Murillo , paintings conservation , paintings , CAMConservation , strip lining

Now that the Murillo has been cleaned of varnish and retouching, it’s time to address its structural support, in other words, the canvas and stretcher.

by Conservation

5/26/2022

Murillo , paintings conservation , CAMConservation

Cleaning of the very large painting by the Spanish artist, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, has begun.

by Conservation

4/28/2022

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Henry Mosler , varnish removal

Our paintings conservator is readying another painting for our upcoming exhibition Henry Mosler Behind the Scenes: In Celebration of the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial.

by Conservation

3/31/2022

Murillo , paintings , paintings conservation , CAMConservation

Conservation has begun on one of the tallest paintings in the museum.

by Conservation

3/3/2022

CAMConservation , paintings , paintings conservation , hidden_paintings

Conservation of the large still-life by an anonymous 17th century Neapolitan artist is finally finished.

by Conservation

2/3/2022

paintings , paintings conservation , CAMConservation , Hans Hofmann , Henry Mosler

Here’s another close encounter in the paintings conservation studio that you would be unlikely to see in our galleries.

by Hou-mei Sung, Curator of East Asian Art

2/1/2022

Korean Tiger Painting , East Asian Art , Tiger and Cubs , Buddhist painting , chinese paintings , Joseon dynasty

As the king of beasts in China, the tiger is also one of the oldest and most meaningful animal subjects in Chinese painting. Here, the unidentified artist portrays a large tigress sitting under an old pine tree.

by Conservation

12/9/2021

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Cezanne , Impressionism , impressionist , French immpressionist

Be sure to stop by Gallery 227 to see Still Life in Blue with Lemon after its visit to Conservation.

by Conservation

11/3/2021

paintings conservation , inpainting , conservation paints , pigments

No, it’s just the morning sun hitting our jars of dry pigments through the blinds, a brief exposure that does no harm.

by Conservation

10/8/2021

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Robert Frederick Blum , Venetian Lacemakers , loans

Conservators strive to ensure that their conservation treatments will preserve each artwork for numerous decades or, we hope, even longer.

by Conservation

9/9/2021

Elizabeth Boott Duveneck , Frank Duveneck , CAMConservation , paintings conservation , cleaning paintings

“Blossoms” has just received its new frame, so look for it to pop up on the wall of our American galleries in the near future.

by Conservation

8/11/2021

conservation , paintings conservation , neapolitan , still lifes , CAMConservation , inpainting , hidden_paintings

The large Neapolitan still-life is back — with a new look.

by Conservation

7/15/2021

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , X-ray , X-raying_paintings , X-radiography , hidden_paintings

Our paintings conservator has been working on this very large 17th century Neapolitan still-life.

by Conservation

6/16/2021

paintings conservation , paintings , CAMConservation , Ralston Crawford , John Henry Twachtman , Twatchman

This upright trio recently encountered one another in the Paintings/Objects Conservation lab.

by Conservation

5/19/2021

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , paintings , X-ray , X-radiography , X-raying_paintings , hidden_paintings

Our painting conservator has been working on this very large 17th century Neapolitan still-life.

by Conservation

4/22/2021

Elizabeth Boott Duveneck , Frank Duveneck , Frank Duveneck: American Master , CAMConservation , paintings , paintings conservation

These blossoms are being conserved just in time for spring.