Some Basic Methods For Cleaning Figurative And Genre Art Paintings

By Claudine Hodges


Fans of the artwork of Van Gogh or Sorayama know that canvas is the medium most often used to create their great works. For some artists, linen is regarded as a fun challenge to paint on, but it can be an even greater challenge to clean. These are not cave paintings that last thousands of years, and many specialists are involved in preserving figurative and genre art.

Any museum worth a reputation will have frames, hangers, glass covers and supports available in order to keep the hand oils, dirt, sweat and exhilaration off the priceless works of their many artists. Particularly well-funded museums, such as the Vatican, contain vaults which are temperature and pressure-controlled. Many of the works which originated from the segment of history known as the Renaissance are stored in such vaults.

For the hobby artist, there are sprays and sealants which can preserve a particularly well-loved piece of artwork. By covering the newly painted surface with a chemical and then placing the piece inside of a glass-covered frame, anyone can preserve their own work. These paintings can be placed on a wall for the remainder of a lifetime, and will still be in good shape to send to a museum for display.

Many of us possess paintings which were given to us or picked up at a yard sale. It is important to clean a canvas painting on occasion, as one never knows what the value of a piece of art may be at auction. Some would argue that this process can damage the piece; however, there are some techniques which promise to clean the painting without removing any of the oil-based paint.

It would be very unusual for someone to find a Van Gogh at a garage sale. However, if it is suspected that a piece of art may be valuable, taking it to a museum for an appraisal is a sensible thing. For most paintings simply dusting the surface with a dry cloth or toothbrush can do the trick, bringing back the original luster of the colors. Any persistent staining can be taken care of with emulsion cleaners and a cotton swab.

An oil-based painting on a linen surface is much more difficult to clean, but should not be regarded as impossible. Linen as a medium deteriorates rapidly, and the human race can never know how many beautifully painted pieces have been lost through the ages. Ancient restoration specialists would use their own spittle sometimes as a way to clean them, and this technique is still used today.

The preservation of graffiti art takes place at City Counsel, and the battle to define artwork from graffiti rages on. Most citizens will allow some gang-sign to go up if that means that the beautiful images painted onto drab gray walls can stay too. Special International recognition has been granted to some items of artwork in cities that used to arrest the same artists for vandalism.

Any painting can be made to last longer simply by dusting the surface very lightly on a regular basis. If an emulsion cleaner is necessary, one must first find out if the paint is oil or acrylic based. Keeping the room the artwork is stored in clean and free of dust is also important in maintaining what may one day be a relic.




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