Collect, Care, Conserve, Curate: The Life of the Art Object

The Fralin Museum of Art has a permanent collection of art objects numbering close to 14,000. Behind-the-scenes stewardship is essential to maintaining accessibility of the collection for study, research, and teaching. Museum staff collaborate with specialist conservators, art historians, and materials scientists to maintain diversified collections care. This interdisciplinary process includes the investigation into the creation and history of the art object, thereby unraveling inherent and environmental-related impacts of deterioration and change during the life of the art object. 

This exhibition encompasses objects ranging from 1st century Roman glass through 20th century sculpture, including a 17th century Dutch portrait painting on panel with a hidden image. The majority of the selected objects have never been publicly on view, and present a rare opportunity for visitors to The Fralin. This multi-cultural exhibition is designed to encourage museum goers to participate in the methodology of visual analysis in the detection of materials, fabrication, deterioration, damage, and histories of previous repairs in order to discover the story of the object.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.