The conservation of panel paintings and related objects (original) (raw)

Until the early 17th century almost all portable paintings were created on wood supports, including masterpieces by famous painters, ranging from Giotto to Dürer to Rembrandt. The structural conservation of these paintings requires specific knowledge and skills as the supports are susceptible to damage caused by unstable environmental conditions. Unfortunately, past structural interventions often caused significant damage due to insufficient knowledge of the behaviour of the wood panels, glue and paint layers. Over the last fifty years, the field has developed treatment strategies based on interdisciplinary collaboration and on the knowledge of specialist conservators. Most current conservation protocols rely on empirical knowledge of conservators and are not necessarily based on a scientific understanding of the nature and behaviour of wood and paint layers. In order to move the field forward, it is imperative to strengthen scientific research into the production methods, ageing and future behaviour of panel paintings, being an intricate interplay between different materials. A deeper understanding of the processes that adversely affect panel paintings over time will contribute to the improved care and conservation of these artworks. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam brought together a group of experts from different disciplines to recommend specific areas in the field that would benefit from systematic research. The experts concluded that targeted interdisciplinary research projects are key to understanding the behaviour of panel paintings and help conservators make better informed decisions. Research into chemical and physical properties of wood, glue and paint layers should be combined with an evaluation of past and current conservation treatments. Research should also consider the history of the object, studio practice, conservation history and thoughts on long-term impact of treatments.Over the next seven to ten years key research topics should include: Hydromechanical properties of ageing wood in panels; Interlaminar stresses and fractures mechanics, also affecting the paint layers; Loss of adhesion among the paint layers; Adhesives with appropriate chemical and physical properties; and Non-destructive testing and development of theoretical models. Successful projects encourage close collaboration between conservators and (conservation) scientists, as each discipline brings a unique perspective to the discussion. This collaboration would include the review of existing literature, the development of a database with population studies, and the establishment of a calibration system between laboratories. Given the growing need for skilled conservators with a good scientific background, it is imperative that outcomes are widely shared with the conservation community. Wide dissemination can only be achieved with the support of national and international funding organisations, e.g. in the framework of the European Joint Programming Initiative on Cultural Heritage. Strengthened collaboration among international stakeholders, concerned with the conservation of panel paintings, is vital to the advancement of the field. Existing programmes in a number of countries offer a useful basis, such as the Getty Panel Paintings Initiative and the NWO-programme Science4Arts. Museums, conservation institutes, cultural heritage institutions and universities must play an important role in promoting best practices, knowledge dissemination, and education. These organizations must take the lead to establish an international network of knowledge centres with open access policies that will stimulate knowledge transfer.