Art conservation and restoration entails preventing a work of art from deteriorating and restoring it to its original condition, often after years of neglect. The type of art being conserved tends to divide careers in this field. Paintings, sculptures, textiles, and paper are among the mediums in which experts specialize. Professionals working in any of these mediums must be knowledgeable about artistic style, history, and safe preservation techniques.
When it comes to painting conservation and restoration, chemistry plays a big role. One of the most important tasks for a painting restorer is to first determine the extent of damage to a work, which is frequently caused by smoke, dirt, and sunlight, and then to determine how to repair the damage. Experts can determine the best way to clean and restore the paint to its natural luster by understanding the chemical makeup of the paint and canvas. Experts in painting conservation must also be able to repair torn canvases and antique frames.
Experts in sculpture must have a thorough understanding of stone and metalworking. Most sculptures fall into these two categories in art conservation and restoration, and it is critical that these experts can diagnose weather damage and other forms of decay on sculptures. Cleaning statues, preventing future damage, and making minor repairs to the work are all routine tasks for a sculpture conservator. Sculpture experts, in most cases, place a greater emphasis on cleaning and prevention rather than problem-solving.
Textile preservation jobs include everything from cloth to woodworking to pottery. Art conservation and restoration jobs involving fabric art, such as tapestries and antique clothing, necessitate a thorough understanding of historical sewing and cleaning techniques. In order to bring a table, chair, or bedroom set from hundreds of years ago back to life, repairing and restoring antique furniture necessitates a thorough understanding of woods and construction techniques. Antique plates, pottery, and silverware must all be preserved, which necessitates a thorough knowledge of glass and metal types.
Conservation and restoration of paper art is one of the most delicate of these careers. Drawings, paintings on paper, and historical documents are especially prone to deterioration. Professionals who care for these works must know how to handle them so that more damage does not occur, as well as how to protect them from the enemies of paper: moisture and sunlight.