Category: Libraries & Conservation

Links or news on libraries and conservation

Rosenbach-Free Library of Philadelphia merger is complete

A belated update: this story at philly.com reports on the completion on December 24, 2013 of the acquisition of the Rosenbach Library by the Free Library of Philadelphia. The state attorney general had no objection to the merger. The April 2013 story didn’t go into detail about the board changes, described in this article, which… Continue reading Rosenbach-Free Library of Philadelphia merger is complete

The Future of Libraries and the Huntington Library (Edward Rothstein at NYT)

Edward Rothstein of the New York Times has a fascinating piece on the Huntington Library’s new exhibitions. I think he falters a bit in his review, but his conclusion strikes me as solid and suggestive: [The Huntington] is developing its own syncretic style, with [aspirations towards] European culture at the foundation. This approach has its… Continue reading The Future of Libraries and the Huntington Library (Edward Rothstein at NYT)

Art Conservation Rescue in Haiti

The NY Times reports on efforts by conservators in Haiti, “Conservators Aid Art Rescue Effort in Haiti”: Haitian artists and cultural professionals have been conducting informal salvage operations for the past four months. But the Americans are bringing conservation expertise — there are few if any professionally trained art conservators in Haiti — and special… Continue reading Art Conservation Rescue in Haiti

Art conservation, publicity and the Met: Revisited

The Picasso painting, “The Actor,” damaged by an anonymous woman who fell into it, was returned to the public galleries by the Met’s Conservation Department. The Times has an short article, with these nice details: The conservators had to act quickly because canvases, like people, “have a memory,” she explained. That is, the torn portion… Continue reading Art conservation, publicity and the Met: Revisited

Art Conservation, Publicity and the Met

I’m fascinated by issues relating to conservation of cultural objects, but most of the publicity goes to fine art conservation–if there is any at all. Friday’s disaster at the Metropolitan Museum, where a woman taking an adult education class fell on an early Picasso, The Actor, and tore a 6″ hole in the canvas, got… Continue reading Art Conservation, Publicity and the Met