These lectures highlight current and recent Metropolitan Museum projects in painting conservation, describing the fascinating work involved in understanding as well as preserving the artwork in the Museum's care. Michael Gallagher, conservator in charge of paintings conservation, introduces the lectures.
Karen Thomas specializes in what Gallagher calls "artwork forensics"—the fascinating detective work behind painting conservation. In this lecture, Thomas considers recent work on a group of early German works as a means to discuss looking for the hidden history of the paintings. Offering a glimpse into the work of a paintings conservator, she describes the processes of trying to deduce what techniques and materials went into the making of a painting, working to discover what may have happened to that painting, and finally, understanding what can be done to bring the work back to life.
Lecture by Karen Thomas, assistant conservator, Paintings Conservation, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; introduced by Michael Gallagher, Sherman Fairchild Conservator in Charge of Paintings Conservation
Learn more about paintings conservation at the Met: