Curiosities

Old masters were highly knowledgeable about their mediums, working in workshops with assistants who processed materials chosen specifically for long-term stability.

Modern and Contemporary Art, however, brings a lot more drama. From the 20th century onwards, artists began working more individually and experimenting with mass-produced paints filled with cheap chemical additives that can fade or change hue over time.

Driven by a desire to innovate, these Modern and Contemporary artworks often feature unconventional materials like household paint, industrial resins, and mixed media - like oil and gouache - on the same canvas. This unpredictable behaviour creates fresh challenges, requiring conservators and scientists to work together to understand how these new materials age and how to adequately preserve and treat them. 

When air conditioning lowers the temperature, the air cools and its ability to hold moisture drops. This causes a sudden spike in relative humidity. In most cases, the relative humidity consistently stays above 60–65% that tends to develop mould growth on artworks and attract insects. The excess moisture also causes the artwork's materials to swell, leading to warping, cracking, and paint loss.

So, must we suffer the summer heat to protect our art? Not at all! Lowering the temperature actually slows down chemical decay. The secret is pairing air conditioning with a dehumidifier set to keep humidity below 55–60%. Connecting the dehumidifier directly to a drain pipe ensures it runs without interruption.

If managing this environment sounds complicated, stay cool. Get in touch today for a professional environmental check and tailored advice.

Conservators-restorers are often confused with artists, but conservation and restoration are actually based on science rather than art. In fact, here in Malta, becoming a conservator-restorer requires a master's degree in conservation followed by two years of supervised work. During this course, students study applied chemistry, biology, and physics. Conservation is not about artistic creativity; rather, it focuses on examining artworks, understanding their needs, and determining the best means of preserving them. Because each artwork is made differently, the conservator-restorer must devise a customised treatment approach for every piece.  

OK, restoring something back to its former glory may sound like a catchy frase. But it has been used and abused. An old painting must still appear as an old painting after conservation and restoration treatment. It is not possible to make an old painting or statue look like new! The conservator-restorer must respect the age and authenticity of every artwork. His role consists in prolonging the artwork's lifetime.   

Conservators-restorers have to consider minimal interventions, the bare minimum, to avoid changing the appearance of old artworks. Otherwise, the authenticity of artworks become compromised and lose their value. 

Yes, damage and deterioration are permanent and cannot be undone. This is why it is so important to have artworks inspected by a professional and mantained, even when they still appear to be in a good condition. After all, everyone heard the wise phrase: prevention is always better than cure.  

Conservators-restorers are obliged to provide practical guidelines to the general public - including owners and managers of art collections - so that we could all contribute in safeguarding our treasures.