| CODE | BLH5517 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Conservation Materials and Methods 2: Easel Paintings | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Conservation and Built Heritage | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will give in-depth information on conservation materials and methods for easel paintings, stressing on the effects on the porous stratigraphy and considering environmental conditions the work of art is exposed to. It will include an overview of the theory of specific treatments. The scientific foundations of such conservation materials and methods will be studied in depth, in order to understand how and why they work. Materials and methods will include both traditional and up-to-date modern methods. The evaluation of different materials and methods, advantages and disadvantages, and the applicability to specific situations and case studies, will also be covered e discussed. Students will also critically learn if and when to introduce appropriate modifications which will improve the effectiveness of the treatments - these will generally be based on laboratory-based research and experimentation before work on real easel paintings is carried out. This unit will tackle conservation materials and methods specific to Easel Paintings, such as (but not limited to) other types of consolidation and adhesion, tear mending, facing, lining, tensioning, filling, pictorial retouching, varnishing. Case studies, both successful and otherwise, will be introduced and discussed. Practical demonstrations/applications will be included on laboratory replicas. Study-unit Aims: - Provide a comprehensive overview to the use of conservation materials and methods specific to easel paintings; - Develop a scientific approach towards the choice, application, and adaptation of the best possible treatment(s) for a specific easel painting; - Develop critical thinking on the applicability of the methods learnt. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the advantages and disadvantages of different conservation treatments used over time on easel paintings, critically evaluating them in light of the most recent studies; - Demonstrate in depth technical and scientific understanding of key processes, materials and concepts encountered in the conservation of easel paintings; - Demonstrate ethical awareness and critical reflection in relation to conservation practice fro easel paintings; - Explain how a suitable conservation treatment can be chosen for a specific problem affecting easel paintings. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply in practice problem solving skills related to the condition and potential treatments of selected easel paintings, with an in depth holistic approach considering the whole museum conditions / building / site; - Critically design a conservation treatment taking into consideration specific original materials and techniques, condition of the work of art, external parameters affecting the intervention / the results potentially obtained, weighing advantages and potential disadvantages; - Implement conservation treatments for easel paintings with demonstrable good manual skills. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Essential Readings: - Hill Stoner, J. and Rushfield, R. (Eds) 2012. Conservation of Easel Paintings. Routledge - Horie, C.V. 1987. Materials for conservation, London: Butterworth-Heinemann - Caple, C. 2001. Conservation skills: judgement, method and decision making. London: Routledge. Further reading: - Bomford, D., & Leonard, M. (Eds.). (2004). Issues in the Conservation of Paintings (Vol. 2). Getty Publications. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-unit: BLH5507 | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practicum | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Damian Lizun Jan Dariusz Cutajar Natalia Gustavson Antonio Iaccarino Idelson Klass Jan Van Den Berg |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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