In addition to climate control there are two powerful and affordable tools for the preventive conservation of paintings on panel: framing and microclimate enclosures.
It is widely recognised that framing can directly affect the stability and integrity of panel paintings; therefore it should be carefully selected and executed to help in the prevention of structural damage.
Framing is the base of the microclimate enclosure; another widely used method to prevent climate-related damage to sensitive artworks, either as a temporary measure during loan or as a long-term solution when exhibition or storage conditions are poor.
The workshop will review the history, evolution and current trends in framing and microclimate enclosures for panel paintings. These techniques can be extrapolated to other climate-sensitive artworks on paper, board or canvas.
The workshop is structured in theoretical and practical sessions. Theoretical sessions will cover the following topics:
- The behaviour of panel paintings when subjected to climate fluctuations.
- Guidelines for framing panel paintings
- Techniques to adapt frames to the features of the object: back frame build-ups and curvature profiles
- Current approaches in framing: framing clips and flexible battens
- Materials for glazing, rebate lining, fastening and sealing.
- The principles and functioning of microclimate enclosures.
- The construction process of microclimate frames and MarvelSeal® envelopes
- Risk assessment, storage and exhibition conditions, and maintenance of microclimate enclosures: temperature and pressure gradients, ghosting image and pollution inside the enclosure.
- Guidelines and protocols for collections and private practice.
- Review of several case studies.
During the practical sessions we will use real cases and mock-ups. Framing sessions will address difficult cases that require the modification of the frame’s rebate with curvature profiles and back frame build-ups. During the microclimate enclosures sessions both microclimate frame’s and MarvelSeal® envelopes will be made. Participants will be encouraged to build their own mock-up enclosures during the practical sessions.
The workshop is designed for all the actors involved in the care, exhibition and loan process of panel paintings. Conservators and depot managers in charge of framing and making microclimate enclosures will learn the strategies and practical skills to offer the most suitable solution in a case-by-case basis. We would like to invite collection managers and registrars to join as well since they follow the paintings on loan and are active actors in the decision making process regarding the care of the object. The workshop will equip them with large background on current museum practices across the world, protocols, risks assessment and the last updates in research into framing and microclimate enclosures as preventive conservation strategies.
The workshop will be led by Sara Mateu. As a freelance painting restorer based in Brussels, Sara is specialized in panel paintings and framing. From 2012 to 2014 she worked as a panel painting conservator at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid and the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien.
Praktisch
7, 8 en 9 december 2016, telkens van 9.30 – 16.30 uur, M Museum Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, 3000 Leuven
Docent: Sara Mateu, freelance painting restorer
Taal: Engels
Prijs: 330 euro. Inschrijven kan online via onderstaand formulier
Uiterste inschrijfdatum: 16 november 2016
Maximum aantal deelnemers: 15
Meer informatie: Jürgen Vanhoutte, jurgen.vanhoutte@faro.be, tel. +32 (0)2 213 10 70