Microscopy in Art Conservation

Inge Feidler, Microscopist
Department of Conservation
Art Institute of Chicago

Friday, October 15, 1993

Microscopy has proven very useful at the Art Institute of Chicago for solving some of the problems related to conservation of works of art and in research into artists' materials and technologies. A brief overview of the conservation departments within the museum will be discussed along with how microscopy aids conservators and curators. Examples of the types of analytical problems and a variety of research projects will be outlined, including in-depth studies of works by artists such as Seurat and Gauguin. Detailed pigment research using a variety of analytical methods is being published; examples include the cadmium yellows, oranges and reds and copper arsenic greens. Some questions which have arisen as a result of conservation treatments and curatorial research will also be evaluated.