Preservation of Pastels: A Comparative Study on Museum Preservation Practice in France, Germany and Austria

AbstractPastel paintings and drawings are particularly fragile due to the friable nature of this medium. At risk of severe mechanical, chemical and biological deterioration, pastels present a particular challenge for museum conservators. Protecting these sensitive artworks from damage during display, storage, manipulation or transportation is therefore a priority for every museum and other institution owning pastels. This paper provides an overview of different approaches to the preservation of pastels as practiced by ten museums across France, Germany and Austria. The selected museums each house an important pastel collection and agreed to respond to a survey about the conservation methods used in caring for these collections. The paper addresses the three main categories of the survey: display, storage and transportation of pastels. The first section includes a particular focus on the mounting and framing techniques used in the different museums.