Chemistry and art - The physics of restoration and conservation

Art works often deteriorate precisely because of the materials used to make them. Chemistry and physics can help to research the details of an art work and then conserve the work. Developments in analytical tools are instrumental to that; this section introduces those tools.

Conservation in Herculaneum

Herculeaum is a special case of art in an archaeological setting. So how is it conserved?

Were Ancient Greek statues white or coloured?

Renaissance artists studied the sculptures and monuments of Greece and Rome and emulated them in their own work, ie they imitated the art. This perspective of art has echoed down the centuries to influence the appearance of Western art and architecture today.

Conservation of Egyptian art

The ethical questions of whether ancient works of art should be be conservered or restored are investigated with this resource.

Dangers to cave art

How can cave art be damaged?

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