Paintings and polychrome surfaces

Fine art objects, such as paintings and outdoor murals, can be fragile; however, it is possible to preserve them by taking or avoiding a number of actions. These resources look at the vulnerabilities of paintings and certain artworks displayed outdoors to specific agents of deterioration. They also provide environmental and display guidelines as well as advice on how to prepare paintings for transit, handling and hanging.

Preventive conservation guidelines for collections

• Caring for outdoor objects
• Caring for paintings

Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes

• N10/1 Cleaning Paintings: Precautions (2016)
• N10/2 Making Padded Blocks (2016)
• N10/3 Storage and Display Guidelines for Paintings (2017)
• N10/4 Environmental Guidelines for Paintings (2017)
• N10/5 Emergency Treatment of Water-damaged Paintings on Canvas (2017)
• N10/6 Condition Reporting – Paintings. Part I: Introduction (1993)
• N10/7 Condition Reporting – Paintings. Part II: Examination Techniques and a Checklist (1993)
• N10/8 Framing a Painting (1993)
• N10/9 Keying Out of Paintings (1993)
• N10/10 Backing Boards for Paintings on Canvas (2017)
• N10/11 Condition Reporting – Paintings. Part III: Glossary (2017)
• N10/12 Removing a Painting from its Frame (2017)
• N10/13 Basic Handling of Paintings (1993)
• N10/14 Care of Paintings on Ivory, Metal and Glass (2015)
• N10/15 Paintings: Considerations Prior to Travel (2015)
• N10/16 Wrapping a Painting (2015)
• N10/17 Know Your Paintings – Structure, Materials and Aspects of Deterioration (2017)

Other CCI resources on this topic

• Conservation guidelines for outdoor murals
• Varnishes: Authenticity and Permanence: Abstracts
• Video: Framing a panel painting

Related CCI resources

• Agents of deterioration
• Basic requirements of preventive conservation
• Handling heritage objects
• Light damage calculator
• Time-lapse Video of Deterioration: Oil Painting, Incorrect Relative Humidity

External links

Storage Screens for Paintings (PDF format) (Conserve O Gram 12/1, 1993)