Restoration

The extensive art collections of the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt are conservatively managed by seven restorers who take care of paintings, sculptures, arts and crafts, archaeological, ethnological, and folklore objects, as well as electronic and digital media. The largest group in terms of numbers is the art of drawing and print graphic from the 12th century to the present. 

The main tasks of the restorers include the conservation and restoration of art objects, as well as activities in the context of exhibitions and in areas of preventive conservation. At the Landesmuseum, they are supported by depot managers and a carpenter.

Preventive conservation measures aim to improve the exhibition and storage conditions of the collection items and exhibits. They serve the preservation of the art and cultural assets without making immediate interventions on the objects. This includes concepts for the storage and aging-resistant packaging of the holdings, as well as the control of room climate and lighting, or protection against pest infestation.

Conservation and restoration measures become necessary when aging processes or changes have progressed to the point where the artwork is endangered in its existence or the artistic intention is no longer perceptible. The measures are carried out taking into account restoration ethical guidelines and according to current technical and scientific standards.

All measures, the knowledge gained about the object, and the materials used are documented in writing and photographically.

In recent years, exhibition activities have increased significantly internationally. A considerable part of the restorative everyday life is determined by the examination of the loanability of artworks and the determination of transport and presentation requirements for the exhibits.

An important concern of the restorers is the cross- and interdisciplinary collaboration with the other specialist colleagues in the house. In the exploration of the stocks, the art technological and restoration historical insights gained in this way are incorporated into collection and inventory catalogs or other publications.

Contact:

Dipl. Rest. Olivia Levental (Head of Restoration Art and Cultural History)

Tel.: +49 (0) 6151 3601-230


Dipl. Rest. Friederike Zimmern-Wessel (Restoration Collection of Prints and Drawings)

Tel.: +49 (0) 6151 3601-256