The Conservation of Rosalba Carriera’s Pastels of the Four Seasons
Learn about the conservation of a group of four pastel paintings by Rosalba Carriera
Transport and installation
Pastels can rarely be exhibited or lent, as pastel pigment particles are extremely vulnerable to vibrations which disrupt the media. The damage to the media is not noticeable immediately but it is a cumulative form of damage that causes visible image loss over time. In order to protect these pastels during transport for exhibition installation at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, each work was placed flat, face up into a custom-made crate. The crates were padded with Plastazote® foam and equipped with a shock log to monitor vibrations during transport. Each pastel was carefully unpacked, condition checked and hung on the walls by conservators and specialist technicians.