Cleaning and Care of Paintings

By April Hann Lanford

Paintings and gilded frames frequently come to our studio that has sustained damage from improper cleaning.  While clients attempt to their artwork with the best of intentions, sometimes cleaning can do more harm than good.  All cleaning processes involve contact with the surface of a piece, which causes friction on the surface. This eventually leads to abrasion, which cumulatively can damage the piece.

Oftentimes, it is better to have a light accumulation of dust rather than risk inadvertently damaging the piece that you are trying to care for.

Sage advice-Don’t be afraid to allow for a little accumulation of dust.

Always Check the Condition Prior to Cleaning

Before any attempts at dusting or cleaning, you should first check to make sure that the surface is stable.  If you are concerned about the condition of your painting, it is always best to first document the condition. The easiest way is with images. First, take an overall image, and then take details.

Don’t forget about the back as well.  Oftentimes, the back of a canvas can provide crucial insight into the condition of the front.

Undulations in the canvas, craquelure, tears, and flaking paint, areas of paint loss, are all indicative of underlying complexities that should be further assessed by a conservator to determine the best approach for proper care.

If you find any detached stretcher keys, detached flakes of paint, or other detached elements, always keep those in a bag with the piece so that they can be incorporated in with repairs or conservation in the future.

Light Dusting-Less is Best

For care at home, paintings should only be lightly dusted with a very soft-haired brush.   A large natural hair watercolor mop brush or cosmetic brush is preferable. When using these brushes, be sure to cover the metal ferrule to protect the painting from accidental contact with the metal.  Dusting should be undertaken with very little pressure or contact with the painting surface.

Dusting should never be undertaken if there are cracks or flaking evident on the painted surface.  Dusting may further weaken the bond of the paint layer and cause further loss to the surface.

Never Use Feather Dusters

Feather dusters should not be used as the ends of the spines can scratch the surface.  I frequently find the small tips of feathers that have broken off from dusters caught in the crevices of cracks in surfaces in works.

Don’t Overlook the Back

The back of the canvas is frequently overlooked. You never know what you might find on the back!  In addition to provenance labels, artist signatures, evidence of old repair, I have found old hanging hardware, nails, stretcher keys, and even a pencil caught between the bottom stretcher bar and the back of the canvas!

When paintings are cleaned by a conservator, a protective backing board is secured to the back to provide protection from handling and to protect from the accumulation of dust and debris on the back.

If you find old patches that are failing, tears, items stuck between the canvas and the bottom stretcher bar, you should contact a painting conservator to address these issues.

When cleaning paintings, it is important to always remember that “less is more”.  A subtle buildup of household dust does not necessarily warrant a full cleaning.  However, other exposures, such as construction dust, smoke, or mildew should not be taken lightly. Discolored varnishes, heavy grime, undulations in the canvas, tears, and flaking paint are all also indicative of underlying complexities.

Before attempting to address a concern yourself, you should contact a specialist in the field or conservator. Working with a specialist can confirm the optimal approach to maintain the painting’s integrity and avoid the risk of further damage.

If you have any questions about the care of your piece, please contact us at:

312-344-0331

[email protected]