In recent years, interest in old photographs has grown significantly among a broad public, from collectors, conservators, and archivists to amateurs seeking to preserve precious family albums. Although the medium of photography is barely 150 years old, its relatively brief history has witnessed the birth of a wide range of photographic processes, each of which poses unique conservation challenges.
Photographs of the Past: Processes and Preservation provides a comprehensive introduction to the practice of photograph preservation, bringing together more information on photographic processes than any other single source. Introductory chapters cover issues of terminology; the rest of the book is divided into three parts: positives, negatives, and conservation. Each chapter focuses on a single process--daguerreotypes, albumen negatives, black-and-white prints, and so on--providing an overview of its history and materials and tracing the evolution of its technology. This book will serve as an irreplaceable reference work for conservators, curators, collectors, dealers, conservation students, and photographers, as well as those in the general public seeking information on preserving this ubiquitous form of cultural heritage.

Reste fordern die Institution des Museums heraus. Es sind Kippfiguren, die Zuschreibungen oeffnen und damit an UEberschreitungen der taxonomischen, disziplinaren, architektonischen und institutionellen Grenzen des Museums mitarbeiten. Sie sind uberall anzutreffen - im Ausstellungsraum genauso wie im Depot, im Labor genauso wie in der Verwaltung. In jedem dieser Kontexte stehen jeweils andere Formen des professionellen Selbstverstandnisses, des Wissens und des praktischen Umgangs zur Verfugung, die den Status von Resten determinieren. Der Band tragt dazu bei, Begriffe wie Rest, Abfall, Spuren, Rander im Kontext des Museums zu prazisieren und fur Debatten in Konservierung, Kuration, Kunstgeschichte und Museumsanthropologie neu zu bewerten.

The world's art heritage is under attack from the very people charged with its preservation, argues this important book, which has ignited controversy among art historians, curators, and restorers. In the world's museums and in towns and cities throughout Europe, misguided restoration efforts are having irreversible, often tragic effects on masterpieces by Piero della Francesca, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and many other artists. What roles do aesthetic, institutional, and commercial factors play in the decision to restore a work of art? How can we prevent or halt projects in which a work of art is not restored but irreparably damaged? James Beck and Michael Daley explore these questions in the context of restoration projects in Florence, at the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and in museums in France, England, and the United States. They sound an alarm that must be heeded if we are to preserve the world's art for future generations.

For more than ten years, the Science for Conservators Series have been the key basic texts for conservators throughout the world. Scientific concepts are basic ot the conservation of artefacts of every type, yet many conservators have little or no scientific training. These introductory volumes provide non-scientists with the essential theoretical background to their work.

Discover the extraordinary stories behind the world's missing works of art.

New, small-format impulse-buy books make the perfect self-purchase or gift. Travel back in time to discover works of art that have vanished from the record, as well as those that went missing and have since been reclaimed or recovered.

From the treasures of Tutankhamun to the altarpiece of Ghent, a missing Fabergé egg, and Vincent van Gogh's majestic Sunset at Montmajour, numerous masterpieces have disappeared throughout history as a result of theft, looting, natural catastrophe, or conflict... And some have resurfaced decades or even centuries later. Lost Masterpieces examines the unique story of the most significant of these artworks, the artists who created them, and those thought to be involved in their loss. It explores the various means by which museum curators and international crime investigators have unearthed missing treasures. It highlights the moral dilemma of museums that have profited from looted works of art and examines the recent "heists" made by some nations in an effort to regain their nation's stolen works of art.

Delve into the mysteries of ancient Egyptian tombs, marvel at the hoards unearthed by archaeologists, and discover the skulduggery behind the disappearance of priceless Rembrandts and Vermeers. And see the world of art and antiquities in a whole new light.

On August 23, 1939, with World War II looming, the National Gallery, London, was forced temporarily to close its doors to the public to evacuate the bulk of its collection to secret locations in Wales for safe-keeping. By May 1940, the collection had been transferred to Manod Quarry, a slate mine in the mountains, beneath 200 feet of solid rock. The Gallery, meanwhile, remained "open for business" despite being bombed several times during the Blitz. This enthralling and richly documented book recounts for the first time the story of how the National Gallery functioned during this eventful period. With extensive archival photographs, many of which are published here for the first time, alongside press accounts and Gallery correspondence, it discusses the preparations to move the pictures; the Gallery's decision to keep the building open for temporary exhibitions and lunchtime concerts fronted by internationally renowned pianist Myra Hess; director Kenneth Clark's role as chairman of the War Artists Advisory Committee, whose aim was to commission and exhibit pictures recording the war; and the institution of the Picture of the Month, which exhibited in succession 43 of the Gallery's best-known pictures during the war, and which continues today. Published by National Gallery Company/Distributed by Yale University Press

The latest in this annual bulletin based on research carried out at the National Gallery, London, draws on the combined expertise of scientists, conservators, and curators, bringing together a wealth of information about artists' materials, practices, and techniques. The cleaning and restoration of The Adoration of the Kings by Botticelli and Filippino Lippi reveals its unusually complex physical and attributional history. The relining of Van Dyck's equestrian portrait of Charles I is described, an operation that posed certain challenges due to its large size; at the same time the records of conservation of this painting offer a potted history of lining at the National Gallery. The recent cleaning of Jan van Eyck's Portrait of a Man ("Leal Souvenir") has shown that it retains an original surface coating that may explain its excellent condition. And finally, Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks offers new discoveries from macro XRF scanning and hyperspectral imaging, which extend our knowledge of the evolution of the painting during its production. Published by National Gallery Company/Distributed by Yale University Press

In 2005, the Institut National du Patrimoine of Tunisia played host to the ninth Triennial meeting of the International Committee for the Conservation of Mosaics (ICCM). The meeting focused on assessing past practices of mosaic conservation, both in situ and in museums."Lessons Learned" is a richly illustrated volume that provides readers with a comprehensive record of the conference proceedings.The fifty-three papers - with contributions from more than 80 leading professionals in the field - reflect the conference's principle themes: Evaluating Mosaic Practice, Caring for Mosaics in Museums, Documenting and Assessing Sites at Risk, Managing Sites with Mosaics, Sheltering Mosaics, and Training of Conservation Practitioners.

In recent years more cultural institutions in hot and humid climates have been installing air-conditioning systems to protect their collections and provide comfort for both employees and visitors. This practice, however, can pose complications, including problems of installation and maintenance as well as structural damage to buildings, while failing to provide collections with a viable conservation environment. This volume offers hands-on guidance to the specific challenges involved in conserving cultural heritage in hot and humid climates. Initial chapters present scientific and geographic overviews of these climates, outline risk-based classifications for environmental control, and discuss related issues of human health and comfort. The authors then describe climate management strategies that offer effective and reliable alternatives to conventional air-conditioning systems and that require minimal intervention to the historic fabric of buildings that house collections. The book concludes with seven case studies of successful climate improvement projects undertaken by the Getty Conservation Institute in collaboration with cultural institutions around the world. Appendixes include a unit conversion table, a glossary, and a full bibliography. This book is an essential tool for cultural heritage conservators and museum curators, as well as other professionals involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of museums and other buildings housing cultural heritage collections in hot and humid climates.

This book highlights the present status of manuscript collection in the different repositories of India, and also suggests some remedial measures which are required to be adopted for the proper conservation, care and management of manuscripts. It showcases the nature of base material, ink, pigments, binding materials, writing and illustration techniques used in different manuscripts, given the importance of having thorough knowledge about the chemical composition of different materials before adopting any kind of conservation practice.As dating of manuscript is a very difficult task, a great variety of techniques and methodology such as palaeography, style of writing, illustration and terminology, colophon, spectrometric methods, and radio carbon dating, among others, are discussed here. Furthermore, as prevention is better than cure, different preventive measures, including indigenous methods practiced during the ancient period for preservation of manuscripts, are also outlined, as are the hazards of using different chemicals for conservation of manuscripts.

Building-related art commissioned by the state brings politics, society, architecture, and urban design together in a unique way. In the German Democratic Republic (GDR), it was initially given the function of propagating political contents and idealized images of society. Artists increasingly emancipated themselves from government guidelines and developed their own forms of expression in interplay with their surroundings. Until today, many people identify numerous artworks with their home country. The publication documents the symposium "Building-related Art in the German Democratic Republic" on the occasion of the anniversary "seventy years of building-related art in Germany" in 2020. Renowned experts examine building-related art in the GDR from the perspective of aesthetics and contents and discuss this internationally unique stock of artworks in detail.

The bestselling adult coloring book that allows you to unleash your own vision onto some of the World's Greatest Masterpieces! From the Art Institute of Chicago's curated collection, Color the Classics lets you put your own creative spin on 30 masterpieces-including Grant Wood's American Gothic and Claude Monet's Water Lilies-that have all taken the art world by storm. Create your own work of art by replicating the classics or add your own creative flair to masterpieces that have been admired for centuries. Featured artists include Pablo Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe, Katsushika Hokusai, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and many more. The perfect gift for any holiday, teachers, or any art lover in your life, this spectacular adult coloring book includes: 30 highly designed, frame ready, masterpieces to color 8"X10" perforated, one sided pages in order to allow for easy tearing and sharing Thick paper prevents marker or pen from bleeding through to the next page Lay-flat trade paper binding Information from the Art Institute of Chicago for each piece, including title, artist, and date A broad range of art featured that span complexity to color Art made accessible enough for children to enjoy too!

Close technical examinations of the techniques and materials of Edward Steichen, Mark Rothko, Jules Olitski, Jasper Johns, and others are accompanied by essays that probe issues of conserving contemporary art Volume 5 of the National Gallery of Art's biennial conservation research journal Facture explores issues associated with the conservation and technical analysis of modern and contemporary art. Focusing on works in a variety of media by celebrated artists such as Edward Steichen (1879-1973), Mark Rothko (1903-1970), Jules Olitski (1922-2007), and Jasper Johns (b. 1930), this publication's seven essays offer expertise from conservators, scientists, and art historians, yielding exceptional insights into extraordinary works of art. As in all issues of Facture, the peer-reviewed essays, enlivened with spectacularly detailed photography, navigate interdisciplinary boundaries to examine artworks from technical, scientific, and art-historical perspectives. In this issue, the dialogue is further expanded to include contributions from artists, their families, and their foundations. Distributed for the National Gallery of Art, Washington

From the bestselling author of Meetings With Remarkable Manuscripts, a captivating account of the last surviving relic of Thomas Becket The assassination of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170 is one of the most famous events in European history. It inspired the largest pilgrim site in medieval Europe and many works of literature from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to T. S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral and Anouilh's Becket. In a brilliant piece of historical detective work, Christopher de Hamel here identifies the only surviving relic from Becket's shrine: the Anglo-Saxon Psalter which he cherished throughout his time as Archbishop of Canterbury, and which he may even have been holding when he was murdered. Beautifully illustrated and published to coincide with the 850th anniversary of the death of Thomas Becket, this is an exciting rediscovery of one of the most evocative artefacts of medieval England.

This title gathers together the most important texts on this critical topic, from antiquity to today. The sixth volume in the Getty's Readings in Conservation series, which gathers more than 65 texts that have been influential in the development of thinking about the conservation of cultural heritage, from antiquity to the present day. The volume is divided into nine parts: Philosophies of Preventive Conservation, Keeping Things, Early Years of Conservation in Museums, Relative Humidity and Temperature, Light, Pests, Pollution, The Museum Environment and Risk Management, and Future Trends. Writings by such well-known figures as John Ruskin, and Rachel Carson are complemented by selections from diverse sources including early housekeeping books, 18th-century archivist manuals, and Victorian novels. Other seminal texts include John Evelyn's 17th-century tract on air pollution in London and the founding manifesto of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings by William Morris.

In the early 1650s Ferdinand Bol produced a series of wall-covering paintings. This 'painted chamber' is a unique example of a branch of the art of painting which was extremely popular in the seventeenth century, although hardly any of it now remains. Bol's ensemble has always been surrounded by mysteries. Who was the initial owner, what was the reason for its commission and how were the ceiling-high canvases originally placed? Through a combination of material-technical research and archival, stylistic, iconographic and cultural-historical investigation these questions have for the first time been given convincing answers. This book, with Bol's unique ensemble in the lead role, is the account of an exciting (art) historical quest. The journey begins with apparently insignificant damage to the canvases and small remnants of old paint and varnish, passing via Biblical, classical and contemporary history to its eventual destination in the remarkable life of a particularly ambitious Utrecht widow. The reader becomes familiar with the religious beliefs, ideals and social ambitions of a remarkable woman, and sees close-up how, through Bol's paintings, she was able to give literal expression to her endeavours in the turbulent Utrecht in the middle of the Golden Age.

With the inception of cinema, discussions relating to the preservation of film emerged in countries around the globe. Early motion picture collectors, critics, and producers justified film preservation by appealing to cinema's role as art or artifact or through the medium's capacity to document historical events. In the mid to late twentieth century, however, film preservation advocates shifted to validating their work through re-defining and celebrating cinema as cultural heritage. Saving Cinema investigates the evolution of the film preservation movement-from Hollywood studios and U.S. federal institutions, to influential international associations and small cinema collections in developing nations. Western preservation advocates have succeeded in solidifying a material, artifact-driven approach to how society approaches managing historical relics. But the digital era offers an unprecedented opportunity for change in which widespread access to historical media can, itself, be seen as moving image preservation. Saving Cinema examines the significant influence of the film preservation movement upon what has been defined as 'American' film heritage for the scholar, practitioner, and audience. Although most movie enthusiasts around the globe think Hollywood films equate the nation's cinematic output, the popularity of all types of moving images on the internet evidence what film archives have known for years-that industrial and training films, and even videos of the family cat prove just as popular as the latest blockbuster. Saving Cinema illustrates that moving image archives have not merely preserved movie history, but have, instead, actively produced cinematic heritage.

How do you keep the cracks in Starry Night from spreading? How do you prevent artworks made of hugs or candies from disappearing? How do you render a fading photograph eternal--or should you attempt it at all? These are some of the questions that conservators, curators, registrars, and exhibition designers dealing with contemporary art face on a daily basis. In Still Life, Fernando Dominguez Rubio delves into one of the most important museums of the world, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, to explore the day-to-day dilemmas that museums workers face when the immortal artworks that we see in the exhibition room reveal themselves to be slowly unfolding disasters. Still Life offers a fascinating and detailed ethnographic account of what it takes to prevent these disasters from happening. Going behind the scenes at MoMA, Dominguez Rubio provides a rare view of the vast technological apparatus--from climatic infrastructures and storage facilities, to conservation labs and machines rooms--and teams of workers--from conservators and engineers to guards and couriers--who fight to hold artworks still. As the MoMA reopens after massive expansion and rearranging of its space and collections, Still Life not only offers a much-needed account of the spaces, actors, and forms of labor traditionally left out of the main narratives of art, but it also offers a timely meditation on how far we, as a society, are willing to go to keep the things we value from disappearing into oblivion.

This volume examines periodic changes in color design in medieval churches during the 19th and 20th century. What thus catches the eye is the alternation of phases that brought forth sacred spaces with reduced color and even visible stone and such spaces that strove for colorfulness. The ideologies that stand behind this process are analyzed by considering exemplary restoration measures in individual church buildings against the backdrop of the respective self-conception of monument maintenance, but also more general societal notions. It is shown how much artistic design is inherent in the practice of preserving. Were the Middle Ages colorful? New perspectives on the history of monument maintenance Consideration, for instance, of the Bremen Cathedral, St. Jacobi in Goettingen, and St. Patrokli in Soest

This is a detailed and informative overview of the latest research and development in stone conservation. Petra, Angkor, Copan, Venice, Lascaux, Easter Island - all are examples of irreplaceable cultural heritage built in stone and now slowly disappearing. "Stone Conservation" is a tool for conservators and conservation scientists to guide policy, practice, and research in the preservation of stone in monuments, sculpture, and archaeological sites. This second edition reflects the explosion of new research, enlarging the discussion of preventive conservation and adding new sections on rock art and other subjects. It provides a strategic overview of stone conservation research and an updated critique of the field's strengths and weaknesses. The accompanying bibliography summarizes material published between 1995 and 2009 and provides a framework for building a coherent base of useful knowledge for practicing conservators and scientists.

As a result of the Napoleonic wars, vast numbers of Old Master paintings were released on to the market from public and private collections across continental Europe. The knock-on effect was the growth of the market for Old Masters from the 1790s up to the early 1930s, when the Great Depression put an end to its expansion. This book explores the global movement of Old Master paintings and investigates some of the changes in the art market that took place as a result of this new interest. Arguably, the most important phenomenon was the diminishing of the traditional figure of the art agent and the rise of more visible, increasingly professional, dealerships; firms such as Colnaghi and Agnew's in Britain, Goupil in France and Knoedler in the USA, came into existence. Old Masters Worldwide explores the ways in which the pioneering practices of such businesses contributed to shape a changing market.

A serious challenge for professionals involved in the conservation of cultural heritage sites in tropical environments is the biodeterioration of stone. This volume discusses the types and causes of stone biodeterioration in hot and humid climates, preventative and remedial methods, selection of chemical treatments, the status of current research, and areas for further investigation.