Sometimes science and art can seem polar opposites, but at the Getty Conservation Institute they are friends. Intrigued by the idea of a story about the mixing of the two, I decided to arrange an interview with someone at the Institute. A few months back I met with David Carson, a lab manager at the GCI to discuss the purposes and techniques of art conservation. Before the interview I thought conservation was about repainting masterpieces, but I was far from correct.
According to Mr. Carson, the main purpose of art conservation is to stabilize and prevent art from further damage. Wall paintings are often the beneficiaries of conservation efforts by the Getty Conservation Institute. Often times the first part of the stabilization process is to identify the components which make up the artwork. The identification of the medium is important because it can often lead to an understanding of the mechanics of deterioration, which in turn helps the institute stabilize the art. Scientists use different techniques of identification based on whether the pigment in the paint is organic or inorganic.
The GCI uses a process called X-ray Fluorescence to identify inorganic pigments. The process excites elements using radiation and measures their reactions. Each element has a different reaction to the radiation and when you match the reaction with the element you can map out the chemical or elemental structure of the pigment.
In order to stabilize the piece of art, scientists at the institute also need to know the mechanics of the deterioration. Often times salt solutions get into stone or plaster which have been painted on. When the salt solutions crystallize they can separate the painting from the wall which can cause the painting to literally “fall off the wall.” To look for this separation, David Carson and other scientists at the GCI are developing a technique using Laser Speckle Interferometry. The technique uses a laser and a camera to identify detachment. Once the detachment is identified, conservators can use different techniques to salvage those parts of the paintings.
Remi Mathis
Getty Center
" The main purpose of art conservation is to stabalize and prevent art from further damage"