Preserving Paintings

Causes for damage of Oil Paintings

The most common cause for damage of oil paintings is the improper storage and display of these paintings. When one says display one means display or storage in areas where there is excessive exposure to light, high and fluctuating temperature and humidity levels, dirt or insects . Excessive lights can cause the painting colors to fade or darken. Some paintings are so badly darkened or faded at times that it's impossible to see the detail of these paintings any longer.

• Extreme and fluctuating temperatures can cause damage because of the contraction and expansion of the wooden base or the fabrics of the paintings. The wood components absorb moisture so humidity is also a big problem.

• Dirt and dust on the painting surfaces is an ungainly sight indeed. These dirt patches also act as a hotbed for molds.

• Improper cleaning of these paintings by untrained workers causes much damage.

• Insects like carpet beetle cause much damage to Oil Paintings.

• Careless hanging of this paintings also manage to cause permanent damage to these paintings.

Guidelines for Preservation of Oil Paintings

One needs to display paintings in dimly lit areas, away from direct sunlight, to avoid light damage. The suggested light level for paintings is 200 lux.

To avoid damage from fluctuating temperature and humidity level, it should be ensured that these paintings are kept in temperature-regulated rooms. The acceptable temperature and humidity levels for oil paintings are as follows –

In winter the ideal temperature is between 65 to 70 degrees F and the accepted Relative humidity is 40%-45%.

In summer the ideal temperature is between 70 to 75 degrees F and the accepted Relative humidity is 45%-55%.

Paintings should be carefully dusted and be kept in non-smoking zones to avoid mold formation and nicotine deposits.

To avoid damages from improper cleaning proper precautions should be taken, soft brushes should be used to remove dust from the paintings. Only trained conservators should handle them. One should be careful not to brush off paint chips while cleaning the paintings. The back of the painting should be kept clean by brushing or vacuuming. In order to clean the back, the painting should be removed from its picture frame and placed face down on a clean surface.

To avoid insect infestation, the paintings should be routinely examined and kept in a plastic bag and examined, if found to be infested.

Paintings should always be carefully hung and displayed so as to avoid any accidents.