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alteration
alum
authenticity
chalk
charcoal
cleavage
conservator
deacidification
decay
deterioration
dimensional
entail
excessively
hinder
hinge
humidity
inadvertently
inevitable
inherent
irreversible
lake
mishandling
mold
mounting
multilayered
panel
preventive
resinate
restorer
resin
smalt
splitting
storage
stretcher
susceptible
transparency
warping
4. Read the text.
Conservation involves the care and
preservation of works of art, all of
which are, over a period of time, subject to alteration and deterioration. This
may be due to several factors: chemical, physical, and biological changes
which occur through the inherent instability of the materials of an object, or
result
from faulty technique; accelerated decay as a result of poor environ-
mental conditions, mishandling, or accidental damage and deliberate interven-
tion by owners or restorers. Changes in the states of materials are largely in-
evitable and irreversible but deterioration can be reduced by proper conserva-
tion treatment. This, however, demands sound knowledge of the historic and
artistic
value of the object, as well as its chemical and physical structure.
There is an increasing awareness that environmental factors are vitally im-
portant in determining the lifespan of objects, and that much restoration work
carried out in the past might have been avoided by careful handling, storage,
and display. Organic materials including canvas, wood, paper, some pigments,
and most media, are particularly sensitive to environmental changes. Exces-
sively high or low levels of humidity and temperature, excessive light, and
atmospheric pollution contribute to the deterioration of objects which is accel-
erated by dramatic fluctuations in conditions. Museums
and art galleries usu-
ally attempt to maintain a stable atmosphere but conditions in private homes
and historic houses are more difficult to regulate.
If, despite all precautions, active restoration treatment becomes necessary it
should only be undertaken by a skilled and experienced conservator working
in the
appropriate specialized field; irreparable damage can inadvertently be
caused by enthusiastic amateur methods. Professional conservation preserves
the authenticity of the object while avoiding unnecessary treatment. Methods
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and materials are chosen for their stability and reversibility, and therefore will
not hinder future conservation.
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