Preserving history: conservation research and treatments on two 1930s oil paintings

Abstract

Works of art are more often viewed as aesthetic objects than historical documents, but they can in fact provide a unique and direct window into the values, biases, and ideas of a past time. Preserving these artifacts is a way to ensure that future generations can learn from the past just as we can. History, chemistry, artistry and ethics must all be considered to understand how best to bring a damaged painting back to life so that it can once again serve as a window to the past. Throughout the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, I partnered with the Fort Concho Museum of San Angelo through the Angelo State University Honors Program to perform conservation treatments on two 1930s oil paintings in the museum's collection. This thesis will cover the conservation and restoration of these paintings, discussing the research behind each of the necessary conservation treatments and how they were tested and applied for this project. Treatments performed on the paintings included surface cleaning, removal of foreign material, infilling, and inpainting. I will also discuss my research into how these paintings fit into local history and the art world as a whole, and why their preservation is important