Critical assessment for the conservation of the panel painting of St. Thomas, Luqa

Abstract

Prior to embarking on a conservation project, the conservator needs to be able to carry out a critical assessment of the work of art before deciding upon introducing new measures of conservation interventions. Furthermore, in safeguarding any object that forms part of our cultural heritage, the modern conservator is expected to practice within a framework of ethical standards and principles, encompassing critical examinations and decisions. This project involved a technical study on a panel painting of cultural significance that required conservation. The aims were set in order to conduct a comprehensive study that incorporates a conservation treatment proposal, and simultaneously expose certain artistic aspects within the Late Medieval context of panel painting in Malta. A detailed study on the nature and condition of the painting, constituted the basis upon which to conduct further research in obtaining a deep understanding of the work under study as a whole. A systematic and integrated methodology was applied using various tools and techniques, further supported by relevant data obtained from literature in different fields of study. In this way, the painting was separated in its compositional elements and re combined for a thorough evaluation. All the results contributed to understanding the painting in its original historical and cultural context, the original materials and techniques employed and the passage of time revealed through past interventions as well as deterioration processes. The whole study enabled a clear understanding of the painting's artistic and technical qualities within its original artistic environment, whilst providing the material evidence in order to assess it critically from a conservation point of view. Moreover, it is a record that is meant to provide the different areas of study with a rich source of information.