J.CAC VOLUME 36 (2011)
A Portrait Miniature Project at Library and Archives Canada
In 2005, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) initiated a project to develop expertise in the conservation of portrait miniatures in North America and to facilitate access to these unique objects. With the support of a grant from the Getty Foundation, a five-day training workshop followed by a five-week treatment phase was completed in 2007. Eleven Canadian and American conservators participated in the workshop, “The Care and Treatment of Portrait Miniatures,” led by Alan Derbyshire, Head of Paper, Books and Paintings Conservation at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A), London, UK. Highlights and learning outcomes from the workshop are summarized in this article, including a summary of various problems and treatment options for portrait miniatures painted on vellum or on ivory. For the treatment phase, LAC engaged Carol Aiken, a senior conservator who specializes in the treatment of portrait miniatures, to collaborate with a staff member in initiating treatment of the LAC collection. Several examples from the treatment project demonstrate how different problems routinely associated with miniature portraits on ivory were addressed. The diversity of materials, styles and origins make the care and treatment of portrait miniatures a complex and interesting conservation specialty, and one that benefits from a collaborative approach.
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