by Julie Ribits, Head of Conservation

1/13/2026

CAMConservation, paintings conservation, pigments

When "Study to Homage to the Square/From Inside" by artist Joseph Albers arrived in the museum's conservation lab for treatment, conservators discovered the painting’s verso included a complete list of all materials the artist used to create the image. This information proved invaluable for conservation treatments.

by Bruce Petrie, Chair, Board of Trustees

12/16/2025

pigments, winter, landscapes

A painter of snow learns there’s no such thing as white. Our paints, oil paints with pigments—as well as snow itself—reflect or absorb light in countless ways, none of which is actually the one and only thing we call white.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

7/4/2024

CAMConservation, Vouet, pigments, pigment analysis, pigment identification

A few weeks ago, two scientists from the Center for Archaeometry & Art Research Palatinate (CAAP) in Germany spent the morning in one of our European galleries to analyze Toilette of Venus, a painting by French artist Simon Vouet (1590–1649).

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.