Projects

Francia Treatment: Madonna and Child in a new light

Clowes Conservator of Paintings, Roxy Sperber, removes the varnish from Giulio Francia’s Madonna and Child.  
 
You can see Roxy and her team’s work on display throughout the IMA Galleries. 

Clowes Catalog: Art historians and conservators share their latest discoveries about the Clowes Collection paintings

The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields is home to the Clowes Collection of Old Masters, on long-term loan to the IMA since 1971 and given to the museum incrementally beginning in 2000. Assembled by Dr. George H.A. Clowes (1877–1958) with the assistance of his wife, Edith Whitehill Clowes (1885–1967), this collection formed the early cornerstone for the Museum’s collection of European art created before 1800, to which much has been added since 1971. 

This custom-made online catalogue expands upon, and updates, earlier publications devoted to the Clowes Collection. It allows deep exploration of paintings in this collection on two significant levels—art-historical catalogue entries and technical examination reports—featuring zoomable high-resolution photography, full-screen image viewers for hero images and comparative figures, shareable links, and fully searchable text. Taken together, the essays and technical examination reports published here combine the latest discoveries made by art historians and conservators about the paintings in the Clowes Collection. Published here for the first time (as a PDF) is a manuscript prepared by the art historian Mark Roskill from 1965 to 1968, the first systematic documentation of artworks in the Clowes Collection. 

Joan Mitchell Treatment: Seaweed solutions

Clowes Conservator of Paintings, Roxy Sperber, conserves Diabolo (neige et fleurs) an important abstract expressionist painting by Joan Mitchell. Roxy is using a special seaweed (called Funori) to consolidate (or glue) the powdering paint back together for future generations. Here at Newfields we love when nature can help us conserve our art!  

Conserving The Miraculous Draught of Fishes (Tapestry): Travel alongside this miraculous tapestry and go behind the scenes in Belgium

Go behind the scenes at De Wit Royal Manufacturers of Tapestry to see how this large-scale tapestry was conserved. This Belgian institution is trusted with cleaning an average of 150 tapestries a year, mostly for museums.   

Thanks to The Clowes Fund for gifting this splendid tapestry and accompanying conservation and reinstallation funding to the IMA. Thank you to Bank of America for the generous Conservation Project grant funding to make this project possible. 

Conservation Investigates: How Artworks Change Over Time

Find out how Pere Valle’s 15th century artworks have changed over time with conservator Roxy Sperber, using cross-sections to unearth hidden histories. 

Conservation Investigates: Artist Materials and Techniques

Analyze pigments and paint layers to learn about how materials and techniques available to artists during different periods of history influenced their craft with conservator Roxy Sperber. 

“Spa treatment” for a sculpture in The Garden

Watch decades old iron stains be removed from marble outdoor sculptures in the garden by our Objects Conservation team. Using the power of iron-reducing chemical reagents in a carefully formulated poultice recipe, our team was able to reduce irrigation water stains and restore marble sculptures to their original splendor.  

The Crossroads of Conservation Science and Forensics

In this short video, Dr. Greg Smith, Otto N. Frenzel III Senior Conservation Scientist, speaks about the similarities between cultural heritage chemistry and forensic science at Pittcon 2023.  

How to Spot a Fake Painting [Art Forgery Forensics] | Artrageous with Nate

Dr. Greg Smith, Otto N. Frenzel III Senior Conservation Scientist, and Dr. Glennis Rayermann, reverse engineer a fake wooden panel painting, suspected to be by the notorious forger Icilio Federico Joni (1866-1946).   

The Art of Forensic Science & Crime: What You Need to Know [Art Education] | Artrageous with Nate

In What Lies Beneath: Secrets Under the Surface of Paintings, Newfields’ Otto N. Frenzel III Senior Conservation Scientist Dr. Greg Smith explains how imaging techniques like radiography and infrared reflectography allow you to peer beneath the painted surface.  

The Chemistry of Color | Artrageous with Nate

Dr. Greg Smith, Otto N. Frenzel III Senior Conservation Scientist, brings together art and science in telling the history of color. Hear him discuss how the demands of artists, fashion, and designers drove scientists to make new discoveries in color and how these discoveries in science and chemistry, some of which are serendipitous, ultimately led to materials that have benefitted the arts.