Diagnóstico e Conservação de Pintura

The course is designed to introduce third year undergraduate level conservation students to the care and preventive conservation of historical and modern easel paintings (panel and canvas supports primarily).

The primary objective is to develop observation and assessment skills through teaching professional level documentation (Examination and Condition Reporting), safe handling, and the diagnosis & evaluation of a painting’s state of preservation (stability/instability).

Students will acquire basic knowledge of the primary materials and layer structure of traditional and modern paintings, and the physical and mechanical properties of the paint composite (support, ground & paint layers, varnish). To assess a painting’s state of preservation in order to make recommendations for safe display, storage and travel, students will learn the principal causes of deterioration and will be introduced to the ethical issues and range of options for both historical and current conservation-restoration procedures. Scientific methods and techniques for investigating paint and paintings will be introduced and students will learn to carry out photo-documentation as well as micro-sampling and the use of both the stereomicroscope and the optical microscope.