Preventive conservation and restoration
Guaranteeing the conservation of the pieces in the museum collections for present and future generations is the fundamental aim guiding the work the museum carries out in the area of conservation and restoration. The daily study of Picasso’s work with the materials the artist used also contributes to a better understanding of Picasso’s creations.
Preventive Conservation is an indirect task developing technical strategies for avoiding and delaying the deterioration of the works. Short- and medium-term planning comprise: the environment, light and infection are carefully controlled; preventing disasters; knowing the building and its surrounding, and the control of exhibiting, storage and handling conditions.
Restoration is a direct task meaning intervention on the affected work, stabilising the materials and thus guaranteeing its physical integrity and aiding perception.
The preventive conservation and restoration work carried out at the museum includes:
- Strengthening the global control over the collection and planning appropriate environmental conditions, mainly regarding lighting and climate control.
- Providing technical assistance to other museum departments – collections, security, maintenance, the education service – and setting up joint action protocols.
- Evaluating the conservation state of the works via an examination, carrying out a diagnosis and coming up with appropriate intervention proposals.
- Setting up conservation criteria underlying the museum loan policy.
- Carrying out specific studies and developing research programmes in collaboration with other institutions.
- Exhaustively documenting the collection and circulating the results of the research carried out.
- Coordinating the ordinary restoration of the museum collection and its buildings.
