Before and after conservation treatment on Antonio Canova's Venue Italica marble c1812 Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, gift of Mr Moss Davis, 1931

Before and after conservation treatment on James Tissot, Still on Top, oil on canvas, C1872, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, gift of Viscount Leverhulme, 1921

Before and after conservation treatment on Joseph Nollekens' The Hon Charles James Fox 1793 marble Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, gift of Moss Davis, 1929

Conservation

Conservation in art galleries is the action to taken to prevent or remedy the damage and deterioration to works of art. They include paintings, sculpture and works on paper from the collection or on loan. Conservators often treat works for members of the public as well.

Conservation is carried out by conservators who have extensive training not only in the history and technology of art materials, but also the manner in which they respond to the environment and the processes that contribute to their deterioration.

The Conservators who work for the Auckland Art Gallery are members of the New Zealand Professional Conservators' Group Inc. and abide by the NZPCG Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

A healthy lifestyle is always preferable to visits to the doctor, and the same applies to works of art. While our aim is to always look after works so they remain in good condition, if treatment is necessary, then conservation ethics must always be adhered to. These include a respect for the artistic and historical integrity of a work, only carrying out an intervention when necessary, and always using stable and reversible materials. If there are paint losses then the conservator strives to painstakingly reconstruct the missing areas. The intention is to make the work look as fresh as the day it was created wherever possible.

You can see these processes illustrated in the treatment of James Tissot's Still on Top and view the painting itself in Passion and Politics.

As we all know when we look in the mirror, there is a natural process of deterioration as objects age but these processes can be accelerated by poor conditions as well as accidental damage. Fortunately, works in the Auckland Art Gallery collection are stored in very good conditions today, but in the past there was often not been enough knowledge about how to care for works long term. As with any collection, certain works owned by the Gallery, or held on long-term loan, have suffered damage in the past, especially those from earlier centuries, and often before they were acquired for Auckland.

The main causes of deterioration to artworks are:

LIGHT – all light causes irreversible damage - pigments fade, varnishes darken and paper becomes brittle over time.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY & TEMPERATURE – the organic materials in artworks are hygroscopic, that is they absorb and release moisture in response to changes in the environment. Damages include the growth of mould in high humidity and rapid fluctuations can cause paint to flake due to the build-up of stress.

DUST, DIRT & INSECTS – Dust and dirt can become ingrained in the surface and become very difficult to remove. Insects will eat through paper and leave deposits that cause staining.

HANDLING – Artworks are very susceptible to damage from vibration and physical impact. In addition, they are often very delicate and easily creased or torn. Inappropriate framing or poor restoration can also be the cause of damage.

INHERENT VICE – The material or technique used by the artist may be the cause of damage and result in a variety of damages such as cracking, fading or discolouration.