Paintings can be made up of a variety of paint types and supports in many combinations.
Support is a term used to designate the physical structure which holds or carries the paint layer - wooden panels, prepared cardboards, composition boards, canvas, metal sheets, bark or any other flat surface. The Library even has an oil painting on a large gum leaf!
Paint layers are mixtures of colour pigments in a vehicle - oil, varnish, synthetic resins (eg acrylics), glues, egg-white (tempera) and hot wax - which are applied to the support with brushes, knives, fingers, etc. It is the interaction of these types of materials that make up a painting which determines their reaction to conditions in which they are stored or displayed.
The most common supports, wood and canvas, contain acids which, over time, cause them to become embrittled and discoloured - this is very noticeable in older paintings. Paint layers, too, change chemically as they age, becoming harder and brittle, developing networks of fine cracks. Most paintings have a glossy varnish layer over the surface which serves to protect the paint as well as making the colours look brighter and vibrant. On older pictures these varnishes may have become darker and/or yellower giving the painting a muddy appearance.
The frame, too, is an important part of most paintings as much for protection and security as for its decorative effect and is often the first point of contact when any damage occurs.
All of these inherent problems are accelerated when the painting has a hard life of mis-handling, bad storage and incorrect display conditions.
A painting on canvas is more prone to damage by mishandling than one on a wooden support because it can be dented, punctured or torn very easily. High humidity can cause the fibres of canvas to swell and contract which can lift and crack the paint layer.
Paintings on wooden panels are prone to attack from woodworm and are liable to mould growth damage in damp conditions.
Dirt, sticky residues, aerosols, atmospheric pollutants, light, deposits from flies and other insects, moulds can all become ingrained in the paint surface, cause chemical damage, fading, staining and other deterioration.
Major repairs, cleaning, varnish removals and restoration should always be carried out by a professional restorer or conservator.
Following are some handling and display tips which should give your paintings a happier, longer life.
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