Conservation
Learn the science and practices behind preserving the collection and discover our latest projects.
Treatment and Care
Publications
scholarly journal : Facture
Our biennial journal presents the latest conservation research on works in its collection. Named for “the manner in which things are made,” Facture addresses aspects of conservation from treatment and technical art history to scientific research.
scholarly articles : Modeling Movement: Degas’s Dancers
Groundbreaking technical research and art historical scholarship on Edgar Degas's iconic sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.
Stories
Article: How Mark Rothko Made Paintings on Paper
Mark Rothko made more than 1,000 paintings on paper. Get an inside look at his methods and materials.
Video: Masterful Restoration: Bringing Life Back to a 500-Year-Old School of Perugino Painting
Watch as our skilled conservator revives this 16th-century School of Perugino painting.
Article: James Van Der Zee’s Retouched Portraits
To present sitters in the best possible light and perfect his portrait photographs, 20th-century Harlem photographer Van Der Zee even drew jewelry onto his negatives.
Article: Edgar Degas Only Made One “Little Dancer.” And It’s Ours.
How our conservators have cared for the fragile wax sculpture, preserving it decades longer than anyone thought possible.
Article: Delicious, Daring, and Deadly Materials in Art
Trick or treat? Discover artists' materials that range from spooky to delicious.
Article: Edgar Degas's Experiments in Pastel and Watercolor
A conservator examines how the impressionist made a curious drawing.
Article: The “Shirley Card” Legacy: Artists Correcting for Photography’s Racial Bias
Whiteness has been the default in color photographs, but artists like John Akomfrah work toward a “uniquely Black image.”
Conservation fellowships
We offer opportunities for emerging conservation professionals to practice and refine their skills through the examination and treatment of works of art.
