JAN 160 - Exploring Art Conservation and Restoration

This course is designed for all majors, and serves as an introduction to the connection between art history and the science of conservation.  

The course investigates artists’ materials including pigments, dyes, binders, solvents, and varnishes; methods of cleaning; various technical tools such as microscopic analysis and techniques using x-rays, electromagnetic spectroscopy, ultraviolet, and infrared light.  We will discuss examples of restorations gone badly as well as famous pieces restored to  their former glory, and the way the science of conservation is strictly intertwined with the discipline of art history. 

The course will take place part in the Lab, part in the Art Studio. Students are expected to read, watch the videos and perform all experiments, as well as show their grasp of what type of restoration should or should not be performed. Their final test, the restoration of an object, will demonstrate their creativity and understanding of both techniques and medium.

Instructor(s): Costanza Dopfel 
Email:  cdopfel@stmarys-ca.edu

Prerequisites & Notes
Prerequisites:  None
Course Fee:  120
 

Credits: .25