"Sally Ward," by George Peter Alexander Healy. Oil on Canvas. (1860)

"Portrait of Daniel Boone," by Chester Harding. Oil on Canvas. (1820)

"The Present" by William Edward West. Oil on Canvas. (1833)

(Images from the Kentucky Collection, a Collection of The Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY)

There are more works of art on other media than on canvas -- sketches, watercolors, drawings, and posters, for example. Care for them as you would other paper treasures: limit exposure to extremes of light and temperature; use acid-free materials for display and storage. Handle some with special care: "powdery" art such as pastels or charcoal drawings will smudge easily and fingerprints can stain glossy posters.

Frame them correctly or store them in protective matting or folders.

Image: "Henrietta Hunt Morgan and John Hunt Morgan as a Baby." Miniature painted on tile. (Hunt Morgan Deposit, Kentuckiana Digital Library)

Saving Kentucky's Past -- Preserving Paintings

Use and Display

• Display your paintings away from sources of heat, humidity, pollution, and sunlight. An interior wall, out of direct sunlight, is the safest place to hang a painting.
• Illuminate paintings with cool fiber-optic picture lights. Avoid incandescent bulbs and track lighting, which can heat the surface.
• Attach cardboard backing to paintings. Hang by the frame whenever possible and use mirror plate hangers or D-rings instead of eye hooks.
• Hang paintings securely from two mounting points, securing the mirror hangers to the frame.
• Use picture or mirror hangers on the walls -- not nails or self-adhesive hooks.
• Handling or moving paintings always puts them at risk. Carry paintings with both hands and ask for help with larger pictures.

Storage

• To store a painting, trim pieces of cardboard to match the frame and place them over the front and back of the painting. Wrap the painting in paper and keep it upright away from foot traffic. Do not store paintings in basements or attics.

Care

• Dust oil paintings very gently with a clean and soft brush (an art supply store is a good source). Work from the top down. Use the brush for this chore only and store it in a clean bag. Never use sprays, waxes, polishes, or oils.
• Improper cleaning or restoration techniques can destroy valuable paintings. Have them cleaned and repaired by a professional.

Glossary

acid-free tissue - In the course of time most tissue paper will become acidic and brittle with age. The acidity will transfer to adjacent objects causing these objects to become weaker and possibly discolored. Acid free tissue papers are specially processed to remove such contaminants. An 18 pound weight paper is useful for quilts, coverlets, and the storage of other flat textiles. For stuffing or interleaving, a lighter 12 pound paper is better. This lighter acid free paper is also known as "laminating tissue."

conservator - persons who periodically examine objects, document their condition, and, if necessary, treat and repair them to protect collections over time.
For more information or to locate a professional conservator, visit The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works.

muslin - a thin plain-weave cotton cloth used for curtains, sheets, and dresses

PAT test (photographic activity test) - a test that predicts possible interactions between photographic images and the enclosures in which they are stored. Boxes or other types of enclosures that hold several images, even if those images are in envelopes or sleeves, should be tested too. Many of the harmful chemicals in poor-quality enclosures can become airborne and, over time, work their way to the photograph.

PVC pipe - a lightweight, durable, and waterproof plastic pipe used for plumbing

polyethylene bags - flexible, extremely tough, and chemical-resistant plastic bags commonly used as sandwich or freezer storage

ragboard - board made from cotton and contains no wood (lignins). Little pulping or purification is required because cotton is the purest natural form of cellulose. Rag board is also called Museum Board, is acid-free and meets the standards set by the Library of Congress for museum quality matboard. It is available with or without buffering.

unbuffered - containing neither alkaline nor acid