#artconservation

[conservallama]

I'm only a conservator here. Who did I miss?

___ Follow for more memes from the GLAM world 🖼📙🗄🏛

GLAM - 🖼Galleries📙Libraries🗄Archives🏛Museums . . .

#curators #conservation #artconservation #preservation #heritage #careofcollections #collectionscare #art #objects #collections #registrar #frontofhouse #mountmakers #museums #conservators #conserve #preserve #misunderstood #jobs #meme #memes #memedaily #museummemes #museummeme #glam

[nyupreservation]

Preserving Leaf Paintings in an Anglo-Indian Commonplace Book, 1822-1825

Hello, I’m Alexa Machnik, a third-year graduate student at the Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU. I first came to the Barbara Goldsmith Preservation & Conservation Department in Fall 2022 as a student in the graduate course, Conservation in Context, taught by Laura McCann, Director of Preservation. During this course, we delved into the world of library conservation, exploring the value systems that guide preservation decision-making and treatment action in academic research libraries. One of my class projects involved rehousing delicate leaf paintings from an early 19th-century commonplace book, or friendship album, part of the Fales Library holdings in the Special Collections at NYU Libraries (figs. 1-2) [1]. In honor of Preservation Week, I will share the intriguing history of the book and discuss the decisions that were made to preserve the leaves.

Figure 1 [left]: Front cover of the commonplace book, bound in gold-tooled red morocco leather.   Figure 2 [right]: Ownership label of “Jane Harriet [Blechynden]” on front marbled pastedown.

The book in question was compiled by Jane Harriet Blechynden (1806-1827) in England between 1822 and 1825. It holds her personal collection of handwritten and acquired materials, with contributions from her sisters, Emma and Sarah, who wrote original poems about sisterhood, separation, and their Anglo-Indian ancestry. The three women were the daughters of a British merchant residing in Calcutta, and while born in India, they were educated in England [2]. There is not a great deal known about Jane Harriet’s life in England, but her impending return to India in 1825 is documented in an emotional verse by Emma (fig. 3):

“Thus in parting my sister we’re breaking a link / Which may ne’er be united again / And firm as that chain was ‘tis painful to think / That absence may send it twain.”

Figure 3: Excerpt from the original poem, “Parting and a Meeting,” signed by Emma.

Jane Harriet’s book offers insights into her personhood, social connections, and sensibilities as an artist and collector. In addition to written entries, she inserted a compendium of acquired materials–pressed flowers, her own original drawings, and numerous paintings–between pages of the book (figs. 4-6).

Figures 4-6 [left to right]: A small sampling of the ephemeral treasures found in the book, including a dried pressed flower, a drawing on pith possibly by Jane Harriet, and a cut-paper silhouette.

Notably, six of these paintings are executed on the dried leaves of the Bodhi tree, a sacred plant indigenous to Asia with distinct spade-shaped, long-tipped leaves (fig. 7) [3]. Although leaf painting has origins in Buddhist traditions, by the time Jane Harriet collected her leaf paintings, it had already evolved into a form of Chinese export art in Europe. Her leaves depict secular scenes of contemporary life in China and botanical subjects, which are typical of the export genre (fig. 8). Their inclusion in the book implies that Jane was among the many people who partook in the avid collecting of China trade goods during the first few decades of the 19th century, a time when European fascination for Chinese culture and art was at its peak. 

Figure 7: A leaf painting, as found loose in the book and partially lifted to show the thin, translucent nature of the leaf support.

Figure 8: Another leaf painting from the book, oriented with the leaf tip at the bottom of the image, depicting flowers and a butterfly.

The initial rush of excitement that I felt at finding the leaf paintings soon turned to concern as I gave thought to their long-term preservation at NYU Libraries, where researchers are expected to handle the book. The leaf paintings were loose in between the pages, which raised a series of “what ifs” about the potential dangers they could encounter. What if the leaves slip from the book? What if they bend or break as the pages are turned? What if the painted surfaces become abraded? The paintings were made with opaque pigment-based watercolors on exceptionally delicate, skeletonized leaves that have been primed with a thin organic coating. Despite being intact, their inherent fragility means that they are vulnerable to even the slightest touch. After considerable discussion, the Conservation Unit decided that in order for the leaf paintings to be preserved and safely accessed by researchers, they should be housed separately from the book. 

I thoroughly examined the condition of the leaves and the painted surfaces in order to make a housing recommendation. Despite some minor damage, all were in stable condition. Thus, the ideal housing would provide support to prevent any further damage, such as paint loss and leaf breakage, and at the same time allow the leaves to maintain their translucency. To achieve this, I opted to mount them in double-sided window mats with a support made from clear polyester film, or Mylar® [4]. The addition of the Mylar® would not only create a stable surface for the leaf paintings but also enable the viewing of both sides (fig. 9).

Figure 9: View of the double-sided window mat with a Mylar® support.

My next challenge was to figure out how to mount the leaves onto the Mylar® support without the use of adhesive [5]. After consulting with conservation staff and creating mock-ups, short, discreet Mylar® tabs were selected as the best option to secure them into place (figs. 10-11). For this process, I positioned a single leaf painting onto the support and selectively placed the tabs around its perimeter, making sure the tabs did not overlap any areas of paint. I then used a handheld spot-welding pen to fuse the tabs to the support. Since this process was done in-situ, near the leaf, it required lots of precision practice and encouragement from colleagues before I felt confident enough for the task.

Figure 10: Detail of a mounted leaf painting. Notice that the Mylar® tabs are welded just outside the leaf and extend minimally over the edges, holding it in place with gentle pressure.

Figure 11: The backside of a mounted leaf painting viewed through the Mylar® support. This gives researchers access to the painting’s verso, where an underdrawing and other signs of artistic process can be discerned.

At the time of writing this post, I successfully housed the six leaf paintings in their double-sided window mats (figs. 12-13). This housing project, while complete, is just one part of the ongoing effort to preserve the commonplace book, and the Conservation Unit is continuing work on other elements of the book to ensure its safe return to Special Collections.

Figure 12: Example of the completed housing, showing the front of a leaf painting.

Figure 13: Back of a leaf painting.

Though my involvement in the project has come to an end, I have gained a very special appreciation for the commonplace book and the preservation challenges it presents. The experience of learning directly from NYU Libraries Special Collections was especially invaluable, providing me with opportunities to participate in complex decision-making processes unique to large research libraries driven by user needs. Before signing off, I’d like to extend my gratitude to my supervisors, Laura McCann, Director, and Lindsey Tyne, Conservation Librarian, and the entire team at the Barbara Goldsmith Conservation Lab for their unwavering support and enthusiasm throughout this project. Thank you all very much!

Notes:

[1] A commonplace book is a centralized place for an individual to record information, whether it be their personal thoughts or quotes from outside literary sources. Friendship albums, by contrast, contain handwritten entries from the family, friends, or acquaintances of the owner (often female). Both forms of commonplacing sustained popularity in Europe and America throughout the 19th century. To learn more about this fascinating literary genre, see Jenifer Blouin, “Eternal Perspectives in Nineteenth-Century Friendship Albums,” The Hilltop Review, Vol. 9, Issue 1 (2016) and Victoria E. Burke, “Recent Studies in Commonplace Books,” English Literary Renaissance, Vol. 43, No. 1 (2013), 153-177.

[2] Much of what is known about Jane Harriet (also known in her family as Harriet) comes from the Blechynden papers in the British Library (Add. Mss. 45578-663). This large holding contains the diaries of her father, Richard (Add. Mss. 45581-653), and older brother, Arthur (Add. Mss. 45654-61). For a secondary account of the Blechynden household, see Peter Robb, Sentiment and Self: Richard Blechynden’s Calcutta Diaries, 1791-1822 (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2011).

[3] Michele Matteini, “Written on a Bodhi tree leaf,” Anthropology and Aesthetics, Vol. 75-76 (2021), 45-58. 

[4] The design of the double-sided mats is based on an instructional guide made available by the Library of Congress. “Double-Sided Mat,” Library of Congress, accessed 1 February 2023. 

[5] We chose not to use adhesives or traditional paper-hinging techniques to mount the leaf paintings for several reasons. As noted, the paintings are on fragile, non-paper-based supports that have an organic coating, which may be derived from plant gum. The leaf supports are thin, translucent, and highly vulnerable to breakage, so applying hinges directly with adhesive might permanently alter their appearance or risk further damage to the leaves over time, especially if they need to be removed from the housing in the future.

Photographs: Alexa Machnik

#NYULibraries #NYUSpecialCollections #FalesLibrary #nyuifa #nyuart #librarypreservation #libraryconservation #collectionscare #artconservation #paperconservation #bookconservation #artpreservation #preservingthepast #PreservationWeek #preservationweek2023

[shepaintswithwords]

I’m excited to share that I have accepted an offer of admission to Alfred University’s PhD in Glass Science! I will be moving back to Western New York in August to begin my studies, which will be approximately five years in length. After planning this career move for so long, I can’t quite believe it’s actually happening. I’m so excited to be a professional glass nerd and to continue my career in conservation science. Huge thank-yous to @alfreduniversity Inamori School of Engineering for seeing the value in conservation science as part of Glass Science and @buffalostate_artconservation for giving me the best possible conservation background to succeed in this next career phase. #artconservation @conservators #conservationscience #culturalheritage https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNw-5xuz3m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#artconservation #conservationscience #culturalheritage

[artconservation]

Studium fertig – was nun?

Wie gelingt der Start ins Berufsleben von Restauratoren?

Das Ende des Studiums ist für viele erst der Anfang: Neue Situationen kommen hinzu und es stehen eine Vielzahl an beruflichen Möglichkeiten zur Verfügung, die einen überfordern können. Doch der Übergang vom Studium muss nicht immer herausfordernd sein.

In unserem Artikel haben wir einige hilfreiche Informationen gesammelt, um dir dabei zu helfen, erfolgreich in deine Zukunft als Restaurator:in zu starten. Erfahre, welche Schritte du unternehmen kannst, um deine Karriere voranzutreiben und welche Ressourcen dir dabei zur Verfügung stehen. Lass dich inspirieren und finde wertvolle Tipps, um den Übergang vom Studium in die Berufswelt erfolgreich zu meistern.

#Restaurierung #Restauratoren #Beruf #artconservation #denkmalschutz #kulturguterhaltung #artconservators #kunst #denkmalpflege #culturalheritage #art #Studium #Berufsleben #Praktika

[bigriverbindery]

We’re thankful for many things in the shop, especially good friends and colleagues who share tips and hints. This recycled ethafoam is great at stabilizing beakers when mixing up solutions. Thanks for the tip Stephanie Watkins, we’ll make our own for the shop soon. #conservationtips #bookconservation #artconservation #bookbinding #bookarts (at Big River Bindery) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClY9wefrcLQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#conservationtips #bookconservation #artconservation #bookbinding #bookarts

[artstudiosergeykonstantinov]

Sculpture. Art restoration San Francisco. Art studio Sergey Konstantinov. #antiques #artwork #sculpture #oilcanvas #artrestoration #artconservation #artstudiosergeykonstantinov #sanfrancisco #photography #fineartphotography #decor #desing #classic #art #artgallery #fineartgallery #артстудиясергейконстантинов #киев #львов #искусство #живопись #oilpainting #oilpaintingconservation #decorative #artrestoration #fineartpreservation #fineartpreservationsanfrancisco https://www.instagram.com/p/CdhhzaELmHn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#antiques #artwork #sculpture #oilcanvas #artrestoration #artconservation #artstudiosergeykonstantinov #sanfrancisco #photography #fineartphotography #decor #desing #classic #art #artgallery #fineartgallery #артстудиясергейконстантинов #киев #львов #искусство #живопись #oilpainting #oilpaintingconservation #decorative #fineartpreservation #fineartpreservationsanfrancisco

[elizabethleitzell]

07 | 05 | 2021 Behind the Scenes with Peale's "Staircase Group"

Featuring Lucia Bay - Conservator at Philadelphia Museum of Art

 ——————————–

Video created for Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2021.

Director of Photography and Editor: Elizabeth Leitzell

Art Director: Luis Bravo

Writer: Sid Rodríguez

Producer: Gretchen Dykstra

Production Sound Mixer: Loren Stata

Gaffer: Kyle Struve

Additional photography by Jason Wierzbicki, Lucia Bay, Rosalie Hooper, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Photo Studio.

#staircasegroup #peale #artconservation #philly #philadelphiamuseumofart #behindthescenes #Youtube

[generatedart]

Art by @truncation.xero The Feast Available on hicetnunc for just 1 tez! Link in bio. ——————————— Update: All 50 editions were sold in about an hour. Some are still available on the secondary market. . . #generativeart #experimentalart #neuralartwork #aiart #artconservation #oldmasterpaintings #antiquepainting #contemporaryart #neuralnetwork #arthistory #generativegraphics #digitalabstract #creativecodeart #newmediaart https://www.instagram.com/p/CpWNyx_D9f3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#generativeart #experimentalart #neuralartwork #aiart #artconservation #oldmasterpaintings #antiquepainting #contemporaryart #neuralnetwork #arthistory #generativegraphics #digitalabstract #creativecodeart #newmediaart

[thincso]

Restoration work, painting, Venetian school 18th c. Repaired hole and scratches, Paul Dettwiler resin and oil on canvas #pauldettwiler #nogari #arte #artcurators #artconservation #artcollections #restoration #artreview #kunstsammler #restaurierung #oilpaintings #artmuseums #venezia1600 #venezia360 #artevent #culturalheritage #history (at Venice) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdpS38EIv28/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#pauldettwiler #nogari #arte #artcurators #artconservation #artcollections #restoration #artreview #kunstsammler #restaurierung #oilpaintings #artmuseums #venezia1600 #venezia360 #artevent #culturalheritage #history

[anotherconservator]

#Pieter Bruegel #The tower of babilon #Art #conservation #Art conservator #oil painting #art history

[antharmukhi]

~⁣

⁣

Yesterday I restored an old book(RAMAYANA), written by Rajagopalachari, published in 1957. It belonged to my grand father. ⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

I found this book in his old card-board suitcase, and it was in a rather bad shape, no original binding was found, there was no spine on the book at all and the stitching was slanting badly, and needed to be completely resewn. ⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

Bound in fine brown leather attached to hard card-boards, and the paper was stitched using waxed linen cords.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

Absolutely enjoyed restoring this old beauty.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

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#books #Ramayana #oldbook #oldbookrevival #book restoration #artconservation #bibliophile #book binding

[conservallama]

You put all this effort in, and now all there is left to do is wait. Tell us what you've tried to make people show up? What works? What doesn't work?

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GLAM - 🖼Galleries📙Libraries🗄Archives🏛Museums . . .

#conservation #artconservation #preservation #heritage #careofcollections #collectionscare #objects #collections #museums #materials #preserve #meme #museummemes #memedaily #itsover #display #kermit #exhibition #galleries #visitors #museumvisitors #culture #museum #memes #memer

[nyupreservation]

Preservation Week 2023

Virtual Presentation: Conservation of Balinese Shadow Puppets from the Mabou Mines Archives 

Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 1:00 - 2:00 PM (EST)

Location: Virtual Event/Zoom 

Registration: https://nyu_preservation_week_2023.eventbrite.com

Image: a Balinese shadow puppet from the Mabou Mines Archive, NYU Special Collections.

Since last November, Conservation Center student Peiyuan Sun has been conducting research and conservation treatment on a group of Balinese shadow puppets from the Mabou Mines Archive (MSS.133). In this presentation, she will talk about the information that she has discovered regarding the history and manufacture of these materials and the ways in which she is actively working to make these items more accessible to future users.

Peiyuan Sun received her B.A. in Art History from NYU in 2018. She is in her final year at NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts, where she is a candidate for an M.A. in Art History and M.S. in Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Since fall 2022, Peiyuan has been working as an Andrew Mellon Fellow at the Barbara Goldsmith Preservation and Conservation Department for her curriculum internship under the supervision of Preventive Conservator Jessica Pace.

This event is presented in celebration of Preservation Week, an annual initiative of the American Library Association aimed at connecting our communities through events, activities, and resources that highlight what we can do, individually and together, to preserve our personal and shared collections.

#PreservationWeek2023 #PreservationWeek #NYULibraries #NYUSpecialCollections #FalesLibrary #nyuifa #nyuart #librarypreservation #libraryconservation #collectionscare #artconservation #artpreservation #preservingthepast

[shepaintswithwords]

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Here I am learning how to operate the SEM-EDS. Photo by Dr. Glennis Rayermann, absolutely awesome female scientist. • • • #internationaldayofwomenandgirlsinscience #idwgs #womeninstem #stem #sem #artconservation (at SUNY Buffalo State College) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLKZguOJ1ZZ/?igshid=7srind37eydz

#internationaldayofwomenandgirlsinscience #idwgs #womeninstem #stem #sem #artconservation

[artconservation]

What is a restorer | Art Conservators

The #restorers are professional specialists whose task it is to preserve and care for long-term artistic objects, cultural assets and movable and immovable public and private #heritage. #ArtConservators

The restorers are professional specialists whose task it is to preserve and care for long-term artistic objects, cultural assets and movable and immovable public and private heritage. In the first phase, these highly specialized professionals analyze and document the state of cultural property, examine in detail its processes of decay and the signs of poor aging of the object, plan the…

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#Art Conservation #ArtConservation #ArtConservators #ArtRestoration #restoration #Restorers

[bigriverbindery]

Only a conservator would check out the storage conditions when visiting a museum. Andrew is at a conservation conference and taking a peek behind the curtain at @thebroadmuseum in LA. #artstorage #artconservation #somanypaintings (at The Broad) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdj0PmMp-fL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#artstorage #artconservation #somanypaintings