An art restorer is a skilled artist and conservationist who works to restore soiled, damaged, or faded artworks to their former glory. Art restoration is a highly detailed and painstaking job that necessitates a thorough understanding of cleaning and touch-up techniques, as well as a thorough understanding of each piece he or she restores. Museums and private collectors frequently hire art restorers to clean and preserve priceless and beloved works of art.
Paintings and other forms of art are created on naturally perishable and delicate materials; a marble statue, for example, can become stained or dirty over time. The original canvas and the painted or drawn image both show signs of age, so much of what an art restorer does will involve canvas mending and repair in addition to actual art restoration. An art restorer’s job is to examine a piece of art and determine what repairs are required and whether they can be completed without putting the piece in jeopardy.
The art’s integrity is a major concern, and restoration has sparked some debate. Many people believe that tinting or touching up fading colors is the same as destroying and bastardizing an original piece. Many restoration processes aim to make any added or repaired details fully reversible, so that the restoration can be removed without damaging the original work. Because few repairs are completely reversible, this goal may be more difficult than it appears.
An art restorer has typically completed extensive training in a variety of art-related subjects. Some obtain university and post-graduate degrees to aid in their career preparation, but in some parts of the world, the tradition of apprenticeship to master restorers is still practiced. Before being allowed to attempt major restoration jobs, a fully qualified restorer has typically spent many years doing internships and apprentice-level work.
A thorough understanding of art history and a thorough education in modern restoration techniques are two essential skills for a restorer. Drawing on historical sources, a restorer with an art history background may be able to quickly understand what tools were available, what pigments were used, and the techniques of the original artist.