Halp! I am in a research quandary

[ratherastory]

Does anyone know of good books and/or resources that would explain the technical aspects of the preservation and, more importantly, the restoration of art works? More specifically paintings, but I am not especially picky about the medium if it comes down to it.

I am trying to write a story and realized that my plot kind of hinges on my understanding the ins and outs of how to restore paintings, which I emphatically do not. In fact, this is so far out of my league I don't even know where to start. /o\

Halp? Anyone? Bueller?

Comments

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

OK, first things first: what type of art are you looking for information on restoring? Paintings? Sculpture? Mosaic? Ceramic? Glass?

If I know this I can try to help dig out information on restoration tools and techniques for you from there.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I was thinking painting, something transportable, at least.

You're awesome, thank you!

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Hum. When you say "transportable" to you mean that the object being restored is to be transported, or that the overall skills/tools would be something that someone one the road could 'peddle' in a variety of locations?

The idea of the object being transportable is harder to tackle, because of the need for a certain level of 'stability/sterility' in the setting that the work is done in (given my limited knowledge of textiles restoration work).

If it is a matter of the job skills being transportable, it might almost be better if the person was a specialist because it would allow them to be called from place-to-place to deal with specific artifacts and their upkeep (whereas someone who is a generalist might find it harder to locate work readily unless they were well known in the field).