“Art restoration” can be hard to define. It can mean different things to different people. Some think of artists ‘slapping paint around’ to refresh an image, but that’s not what a conservator does. As conservators we are mostly interested in “conserving” what is original in the artwork.

Whatever you know about art restoration, at Parma, it begins with respect. With artwork, complex interactions between materials, solvents, pigments, mediums, veiling layers, substrates, varnish and damage are virtually endless.  A conservator must unpack all of this, precisely expose the original, correct for damage and do no harm. That’s why proper art restoration takes years of benchwork and training to do well.

At Parma, great art restoration starts with a dose of humility. We want to do what is best for the artwork. Our compensations are as minimal as possible, for example, so that more of the original can be conserved and enjoyed. We trust that our measured approach, informed by experience, ensures the very best results for your artwork.

PAINTING CONSERVATION

With age paintings can darken, varnish can yellow and dirt can accumulate. Water exposure, human negligence, and even poor former restoration can damage paintings. Fortunately, through proper conservation techniques, even paintings that appear to be ruined can be saved.

MURAL CONSERVATION

Parma offers a full line of mural restoration services. Working from coast-to-coast, we have conserved hundreds of murals from museums, churches, courthouses, public schools, libraries and homes. Historic murals are precious and they need to be saved.