8/10/2023
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.
7/5/2023
Another work recently conserved for the British catalog project, The Approaching Storm by English artist Thomas Barker (1769–1847), presented a challenge.
6/8/2023
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.
5/11/2023
We recently cleaned Sunlight on Prospect Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts by Edward Hopper (1882–1967).
4/13/2023
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.
3/16/2023
This portrait of an anonymous lady by an anonymous British artist was so dirty that only the most basic details were visible before conservation.
2/16/2023
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.
1/19/2023
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.
12/15/2022
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.
10/6/2022
Look for the recently conserved painting in our gallery soon.
9/15/2022
Look for Bread and Eggs (and onions!) to return to the permanent galleries soon.
8/18/2022
The last step of conserving the large 7’ x 5’ painting by Murillo has arrived.
6/23/2022
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.
5/26/2022
Cleaning of the very large painting by the Spanish artist, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, has begun.
4/28/2022
Our paintings conservator is readying another painting for our upcoming exhibition Henry Mosler Behind the Scenes: In Celebration of the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial.
3/31/2022
Conservation has begun on one of the tallest paintings in the museum.
3/3/2022
Conservation of the large still-life by an anonymous 17th century Neapolitan artist is finally finished.
2/3/2022
Here’s another close encounter in the paintings conservation studio that you would be unlikely to see in our galleries.
12/9/2021
Be sure to stop by Gallery 227 to see Still Life in Blue with Lemon after its visit to Conservation.
11/3/2021
No, it’s just the morning sun hitting our jars of dry pigments through the blinds, a brief exposure that does no harm.
10/8/2021
Conservators strive to ensure that their conservation treatments will preserve each artwork for numerous decades or, we hope, even longer.
9/9/2021
“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.
8/11/2021
The large Neapolitan still-life is back — with a new look.
7/15/2021
Our paintings conservator has been working on this very large 17th century Neapolitan still-life.
6/16/2021
This upright trio recently encountered one another in the Paintings/Objects Conservation lab.
5/19/2021
Our painting conservator has been working on this very large 17th century Neapolitan still-life.
4/22/2021
These blossoms are being conserved just in time for spring.
2/25/2021
Our paintings conservator has started to clean the varnish from this painting by Edmund Tarbell.
1/28/2021
This life size painting by 19th century American artist, Thomas Satterwhite Noble, is a recent acquisition.
11/12/2020
A heavy layer of grime covered the surface of the thin wood panel and the remains of paint.