Design a Museum Display
For this project, you'll design a museum display that conveys how light, color, and spectra are used in art conservation.Science of Art Conservation
Light, color, and spectra are important components of art conservation work done at museums. By investigating how paint pigments reflect light at different wavelengths—including infrared, ultraviolet, and x-rays—art conservators can understand the nature and origin of the materials employed, helping them make decisions about how to best care for and restore the artwork.
Video. Watch this video that shows how imaging scientist Keats Webb and conservation scientist Matthew Clarke use light, color, and spectra to better understand paintings at the Smithsonian Institution.
Spectrum Notebook. Answer these questions after watching the video:
- Describe 2 different techniques that allow conservation scientists to determine what pigments were used in a painting.
- What can conservation scientists learn about a painting from knowing what pigments were used in it?