The Conservation Department

Conservation of Cruikshank’s The Worship of Bacchus :

Demon Drink  |  Before Treatment  |  Conservation Treatment  |  Cruikshank's Painting Technique

Founded in the 1950s, the department has evolved to provide the conservation services and technical research required by a rapidly growing collection and expanding complex of galleries with ambitious programmes. The Department is divided into specialist sections for the treatment of works on paper, sculpture, paintings, and frames. There is also a section for conservation science that carries out scientific research into artists' techniques and conservation methods.

Care of the collection remains at the heart of the Department's work but increasingly the objectives encompass a more extensive range of activities:

• the technical investigation, treatment and documentation of works of art
• conservation of displays and exhibitions at all venues, loans, acquisitions and stored works
• conservation advice on a wide range of projects, from new galleries and stores to the specification of cases for transport
• research into historical and modern art techniques
• sharing knowledge and expertise through internships, publications, presentations and conferences as well as providing a valuable research resource for the wider community of conservation and the visual arts.

The conservator's task is to preserve and present the surviving, original work of art in the best condition possible. Priority is given to preventive conservation: reducing rates of degradation and providing protection from accidental damage. However, artworks inevitably become dirty and degrade in time, so that they do need cleaning and remedial treatment. The treatment of deterioted works of art requires a wide range of skills, an abundance of patience and the ability to solve often novel problems. Major restorations are very time consuming.

Reliable technical information and understanding of the work of art's historical context underpin all conservation decisions taken, from the selection of cleaning methods to the control of the environment. Thus, scientific examination and historical research have vital roles in providing a full investigation of an object's structure and condition.

Examples of innovative projects undertaken by the Department are:

• the development of preventive conservation and treatment for modern art
• research into the transport of works of art, the behaviour of canvas supports, modern painting media, electronic media, Tudor portrait painting, and individual artists such as JMW Turner
• the hosting of international conferences on art in transit, the conservation of modern works on paper and sculpture, and the making of major contributions to many other conferences, world wide
• contributions to many publications and exhibitions catalogues. These include the publication Turner's Painting Techniques and contributions to the Wright of Derby and Dynasties catalogues. Turner's Painting Techniques and the Dynasties catalogues are available in the Tate Shop. Publications in preparation are Material Matters on sculpture conservation, Appreciating Technique on the techniques of paintings from the collection and one on modern painting media.

Read about the conservation of George Cruikshank’s The Worship of Bacchus