Conservation

3-D technology expands the ways of seeing and studying RISD Museum's 12th century Dainichi Buddha.

In earlier decades, retouching (or “inpainting”) using reversible painting materials would have been employed where compositional elements were missing.

Examining and documenting four Fayum portraits as part of a larger study directed by the J. Paul Getty Museum

For conservators, fabrics incorporating metallic components raise complex questions about construction, materials, and manufacturing techniques, all of which impact how an object will be stabilized and displayed

Understanding historic frames and how to care for them can be a complicated matter.

RISD Museum conservator Ingrid Neuman discusses the challenges in caring for objects made from this ubiquitous material

There's always more to be discovered: Hidden in plain sight since the 11th century, two inscriptions were found during conservation of the Museum's Dainichi Buddha.

Isabella McCormick (Brown/RISD 2015) explores the intricacies of the Gorham Narragansett Salad Set and their reflections on Rhode Island culture, insights gained from her meticulous cleaning of the utensils as part of her Mellon Summer Internship in conservation.

Cleaning an object can be as much about discovery as it is about removing accumulated dust and grime.

While the sixth-floor galleries are undergoing an extensive renovation, the Museum is carefully studying and conducting conservation work on the monumental 12th-century wooden Dainichi Nyorai Buddha. When the Buddha is returned to its gallery in late spring 2014, it will be stabilized and we'll know much more about the art that went into creating this nearly 10-foot-tall sculpture.