How to Preserve Expensive Oil Paintings
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can EditOwning a genuine oil painting for your home or office is a matter of pride. But to make this long-lasting and durable art a part of the family for generations it needs proper care and handling. And preserving an oil painting is not at all a difficult task provided you follow all the guidelines.
Steps
- Select the room where the
painting is going to be hanged.
- Select a room with
proper lighting 200 lux.[1]
- Make sure that the
room has a stable temperature that is neither too hot nor too humid.
- During summer months,
keep the rooms ambient temperature 70-75°F, and a relative humidity of
45-55%.[1]
- During winter months,
keep the rooms ambient temperature 65-70°F and a relative humidity of
40%-45%.[1]
- Hang paintings away
from direct sunlight, bright overhead lights, and fireplaces.
- Purchase strong picture hooks
and insert them properly into the wall and then hang your painting on it
with the help of the wire. Use two picture hooks which are appropriate to the
wall and strong enough.
- Before hanging the oil
painting, coat the surface with a layer of varnish to preserve it. But
this should be done only after the painting has thoroughly dried or you
can take help of some knowledgeable conservator.
- From time to time check the
wire to make sure that it is in good working condition. If required,
change the wire.
- Whenever you need to take
down the painting from the wall for cleaning, handle it by the frame
without touching the painted surface. Always wash your hands before
handling an oil painting as fluid from your hands can damage the surface.
- Regularly clean the painting
to maintain its beauty. Clean the painting with soft brushes, moist cotton
wool or soft micro fibre cloth. And for cleaning the back of the painting
use a vacuum cleaner or soft brushes.
- In case insect infestation is
found, keep the oil painting in a plastic bag and ask an expert to examine
it.
Tips
- When hanging the painting
always use good quality wire and it must be strong enough to hold the weight
of the painting.
- Do not keep the painting in a
room with fluctuating temperatures.
- Do not rely on a regular nail
for hanging a priceless painting.
- Never use any rough piece of
cloth for cleaning it.
- Avoid hanging oil paintings
in hallways or on walls where there is frequent family movement.
Things You Will Need
- Good quality wire
- Strong picture hooks
- Varnish
- Soft brushes
- Moist cotton wool
- Soft micro fibre cloth
- Vacuum cleaner
- Plastic bag
Related wikiHows
- How to Paint a Landscape in Oils
- How to Clean Oil
Paintings to Preserve It for Years
- How to Make Your Own
Glazing Medium for Oil Painting
- How to Clean an Oil Painting
Sources and Citations
- Select a room with
proper lighting 200 lux.[1]
- Make sure that the
room has a stable temperature that is neither too hot nor too humid.
- During summer months,
keep the rooms ambient temperature 70-75°F, and a relative humidity of
45-55%.[1]
- During winter months,
keep the rooms ambient temperature 65-70°F and a relative humidity of
40%-45%.[1]
- Hang paintings away
from direct sunlight, bright overhead lights, and fireplaces.
Article provided by wikiHow,
a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the
original wikiHow article on How to Preserve
Expensive Oil Paintings. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons
license.
