Conservation Program
In 2003, with inspiration from longtime donor and friend Robert Bayard Severy, the Bostonian Society launched an Adopt-an-Artifact program. Through this unique program, individuals and organizations sponsor the conservation of a specific object in the Bostonian Society collection. Adopt-an-Artifact donations pay for the object to be treated by a qualified conservator so that it is properly preserved for future generations.
The conservation program began with one small oil painting, sponsored by Severy. A year later, a generous grant from the Tomfohrde Foundation helped us develop a conservation wish-list and publicize our efforts. Since then, other donors have stepped up to support this important cause, and the project has expanded to include not only paintings but all types of historical objects.
Conservation costs for individual pieces vary substantially in price. For more information on the Adopt-an-Object program, or to sponsor an object, email Adele Barbato, Collections Manager, or call 617-720-1713 x23.
Success Stories
Click image to enlarge
The Old Feather Store, Dock Square by Taylor
Buzzell, oil on canvas, c. 1870-1881
Conservation sponsored by
Robert Bayard Severy, in memory of Harriet Ropes Cabot. Work performed
by painting conservators Theresa Carmichael and Geraldine Brooks.
The painting depicts the Old Feather Store, a Boston landmark built in 1680 and demolished in 1860. A thick layer of grime and soot had built up on the canvas over time, turning the once blue sky to a dull gray. Conservators used special detergents to gently clean the painting, and then applied a layer of varnish to protect the canvas from further damage. The now-gleaming painting reveals the details of the building with much greater clarity.
Click image to enlarge
Daniel Webster by
Bass Otis after G.P.A. Healy, oil on Canvas, 19th century
Conservation sponsored by Robert Gold and Susan
Sprecher Gold. Work performed by painting conservators Theresa
Carmichael and Geraldine Brooks.
A brilliant statesman and orator, and one of Boston 's favorite sons, Daniel Webster represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate and also served as Secretary of State. His famous Senate debate with Robert Young Hayne is immortalized in a monumental painting by G.P.A. Healy that hangs in Faneuil Hall, just two blocks from the Old State House. The canvas of this painting was brittle and buckling in its frame. Conservators smoothed and stabilized the canvas and removed a discolored layer of varnish. Before conservation, Webster looked like he might be on his death-bed, but his cheeks and eyes now reflect his trademark fire and vitality.
Thompson's Island
, artist unknown, oil on canvas, c. 1880-1920
Conservation sponsored by Robert Bayard Severy, in
memory of Robert Pease Severy. Work performed by painting conservators
Theresa Carmichael and Geraldine Brooks.
Located at the southern end of Boston Harbor, Thompson Island has been home to a series of residential schools since 1833. Today, Outward Bound runs outdoor educational programs on the island. Conservation uncovered the brilliant blues and greens of this Boston Harbor scene. Of all the paintings we have conserved recently, this one was the dirtiest.
Click image to enlarge
Rear of the Old Ruin and Tremere House, by Susan Minot Lane , oil on canvas, 1888
Conservation sponsored by Robert Bayard Severy,
in memory of Josephine McClintock Bellamy Severy.
Work performed by painting conservators Theresa Carmichael and Geraldine
Brooks.
This painting was not as dirty as the others, but there were severe stress cracks throughout the paint-perhaps because of the cumulative effect of poor storage conditions since the work was created in 1888, or because of the particular technique and materials artist Susan Minot Lane employed. Therefore, with this piece the conservators concentrated on consolidating and flattening the cracks to prevent the paint from lifting away from the canvas over time. The painting is shown here before treatment, in raking light that emphasizes how badly the surface was cracking.
Frequently Asked Questions about Conservation
What is a conservator?
A conservator is like a doctor for artwork and artifacts. Conservators undergo years of training in chemistry, art history, and hands-on artifact care. Conservators usually specialize in a particular kind of object, like textiles, furniture, or paintings. When they work on an object, their goal is to stabilize and protect the object from further deterioration over time. Whenever possible, they try to make sure that whatever they do to an object is reversible, to protect the object's historical and artistic integrity, and in case better conservation methods are developed in the future.
How did your paintings get so dirty?
Years of poor environmental conditions in the Old State House, including a coal-burning furnace, improperly-sealed windows that let in pollutants from the subway underneath the building, and a 1921 fire, took their toll on many artifacts in the Bostonian Society's collection. The good news is that a 1992 renovation to the building introduced much-needed environmental controls-including a modern HVAC system-to minimize further damage. The bad news is that cleaning the residual soot and grime can be time-consuming and costly.
How can I take care of my own treasured objects?
Keep your objects in a stable environment-no extreme changes in temperature and humidity; no basements and no attics. Keep them away from direct sunlight. Store or frame your treasures using archival materials. For more information on specific types of artifacts, consult the following links:
American Institute for Conservation's Caring for Your Treasures series
Northeast Document Conservation Center FAQs for books, papers, and photographs
Canadian Conservation Institute's How to Care For… series
Henry Ford Museum's Caring for Your Artifacts
How can I find a conservator in my area? The American Institute for Conservation website provides a national conservator referral service, as well as guidelines for choosing a conservator.
How can I help? To adopt an artifact in the Bostonian Society's collection by sponsoring vital conservation treatment, email Adele Barbato, Collections Manager, or call 617-720-1713 x23.
