Exhibit explains art conservation

X-rays, microscopes and chemical analysis are the modern tools of the trade for the National Gallery's conservators who protect and preserve Ireland's art treasures.

The important work done by the museum's conservators is explained in a three-room exhibition linked to Science Week Ireland and open in the Print Gallery until December 14th. It explains what they do, displays the tools and equipment they use and shows the results in wonderful paintings such as Rembrandt's Head of an Old Man.

A wide range of advanced technologies were available to the conservator, explained Mr Andrew O'Connor, senior conservator at the museum, who specialises in oil paintings. Technology was used to preserve, but also to aid authentication of art works and to study their - literally - hidden depths.

X-rays, for example, were used to detect obscured images or changes to the artist's original composition. The exhibition is entitled "The Deeper Picture, Conservation at the National Gallery of Ireland".

The extensive exhibition was prepared to coincide with the Congress of the International Institute for Conservators, which took place several weeks ago. It now serves to provide an insight into their techniques.

"This is aimed at the general public," Mr O'Connor said. The first room serves as an introduction to conservation. The second room is dedicated to paper conservation carried out by two other museum specialists, Ms Niamh McGuinne and Ms Maighread McParland. The third room shows how oil paintings are cleaned and reconditioned.

The key was "conservation not restoration", Mr O'Connor said.

Equally important was "reversability", the ability at some time in the future to remove all trace of any conservation or restoration work, which would allow future, even more advanced techniques to be employed. The conservators take cleaners, chemicals and equipment from other disciplines if they can assist their work, for example microscopes for studying surfaces and syringes to apply tiny amounts of adhesives.