Exploring Restoration Techniques

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Exploring Restoration Techniques
Presentation in conjunction with Maxfield
Parrish Master of Make-Believe
San Diego Museum of Art Education Department
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• When artwork is in poor condition and needs to
  be repaired, museum scientists called
  conservators are hired to either restore or
  conserve the work.

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Restoration vs. Conservation

• Restoration is the process of repairing damage
  to artworks to bring them back to their original
  appearance. This can include the addition of
  elements that are not original.
• Conservation focuses on preserving artifacts and
  maintaining their condition without adding
  unoriginal elements.

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Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci. The Last Supper, 1498.
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• Leonardo da Vincis Last Supper
• Leonardo used an experimental fresco technique
  which unfortunately resulted in rapid
  deterioration.
• The most recent restoration of this piece
  received a great deal of criticism due to the
  amount of new paint which was added, leading some
  to consider it a repainting rather than a
  restoration

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Last Supper Transformation
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Michelangelos Sistine Chapel frescos
Michelangelo Buonarotti. Sistine Chapel ceiling.
1512.
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• Michelangelos Sistine Chapel frescos
• In 1980 conservators began cleaning away soot and
  dirt that had darkened the frescoes. The removal
  of the patina created a controversy, with some
  praising the bold, uncovered colors and some
  complaining about the previously unseen vibrancy.

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Creation of Adam Before and After
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RESTORATION OF PARRISHS du Pont Mural
Maxfield Parrish. Du Pont Mural. 1933.

• The three panel mural was originally located
  in Irènèe du Ponts Wilmington, Delaware home.

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MURAL DETERIORATION

• Originally painted in 1932-33, the paintings
  began deteriorating within 20 years and had to be
  removed and completely replaced.
• The canvas was improperly prepared for painting
  and then subjected to temperature extremes, which
  led to the deteriorating condition.

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RESTORATION PROCESS

• Conservators adhered the flaking paint chips back
  onto the canvas using a process called
  consolidation.

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RESTORATION PROCESS

• Next, the head conservator made the decision
  to fill in areas of total loss using inpainting.
  Deciding whether or not to inpaint an artwork is
  a major decision, as it involves adding elements
  to the piece that are unoriginal.

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AFTER RESTORATION
Maxfield Parrish. Du Pont Mural. 1933.