Art Conservation

The expensive price tag of Baumgartner’s restoration of a damaged artwork by Italian Renaissance artist Carlo Dolci has made headlines. The restoration cost a startling $170,000 and took more than a year to finish. However, are restoration costs always so high, and is it worthwhile? The cost of restoring artwork is influenced by a number … Read more

What does it mean when a painting is relined? The lining of paintings is a process of conservation science and art restoration used to strengthen, flatten or consolidate oil or tempera paintings on canvas by attaching a new support to the back of the existing one. The process is sometimes referred to as relining. Read … Read more

What happens to paintings over time? A new painting in good condition will begin to deteriorate as a result of time alone. Its materials go through a drying process which sets up internal stresses in the structure. As the painting continues to age, both the paint film and priming lose flexibility and become brittle. Read … Read more