The conservator’s eye

How do conservators look at works of art?
What do they see that we don't?

videos + essays

The conservator’s eye: a stained glass Adoration of the Magi
The conservator’s eye: a stained glass Adoration of the Magi

Flashed or stained? Discover the historical techniques required to produce—and restore—this vibrant glass painting.

The conservator’s eye: <em>Madame Cézanne in the Conservatory</em>
The conservator’s eye: Madame Cézanne in the Conservatory

Cézanne left graphite lines visible and ground open on this canvas, granting us access to his working process.

The conservator’s eye: Rembrandt, <em>Aristotle with a Bust of Homer</em>
The conservator’s eye: Rembrandt, Aristotle with a Bust of Homer

What lies beneath the surface? Research into a “crusty” buildup of paint reveals Rembrandt’s editing process.

The conservator’s eye: Taddeo Gaddi, Saint Julian
The conservator’s eye: Taddeo Gaddi, Saint Julian

Monks and nuns removed candle soot from this painting using urine and lye, but its gold background never tarnished.

The conservator’s eye: Anselm Kiefer, <em>Bohemia Lies by the Sea</em>
The conservator’s eye: Anselm Kiefer, Bohemia Lies by the Sea

Is this a painting or a relief sculpture? Unclear. Whatever it is, Kiefer’s landscape is falling apart.

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