The importance of heritage

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s commitment to the conservation of the works of art at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection acknowledges the exceptional intrinsic and historic importance of the permanent collection, which is kept in trust for the public to be exhibited, studied and enjoyed for generations to come. To ensure this, the Conservation Department of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection plays an integral role in the research and presentation of the works collected by Peggy Guggenheim. The department collaborates closely with curators and scholars to thoroughly research the historical context of each work of art and its appropriate presentation to the public. Conservators set policies and procedures for the maintenance and long-term preservation of the collection, and establish best practices for storing, transporting, and handling the works of art. Besides, they oversee the safe installation of loans and exhibitions.

Conservation treatment on Jackson Pollock, Alchemy (1947), Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence.

“In order to preserve both the physical and aesthetic integrity of the collection, we conduct scientific research on the materials and techniques used to create the works of art, thus revealing the artistic process of the respective artists. We also study the mechanisms of deterioration and test treatment methods. Additionally, we take part in international collaborative research projects, as well as initiatives on cutting-edge science for the conservation of modern and contemporary art. Such projects involve institutions and academic centres of excellence in the field of synthesis and characterization of advanced materials, and institutions for the conservation of cultural heritage. A multidisciplinary approach is applied to the development of materials for conservation needs, the testing of such materials, the assessment of their environmental impact and industrial feasibility. We continue to publish our research studies, educate, participate in and host symposia, and lecture at conferences and forums around the world”, notes Luciano Pensabene Buemi, Chief Conservator of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

Conservator Luciano Pensabene Buemi working on Vasily Kandinsky, Upward (1929), conservation laboratory, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice.

The Conservation Department collaborates with the Conservation Department of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, the Soprintendenza Archeologica, Belle Arti e Paesaggio of Venice, and other Italian research institutions, which include the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence, the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), the Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO), and the Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari del Centro Smaart in Perugia. It participates in research projects for heritage conservation promoted by the EU, such as NANORESTART and APACHE. It collaborates with the Integrated Project for the European Research Infrastructure on Culture Heritage IPERION CH.

EFG has been Institutional Patron of The Peggy Guggenheim Collection since 2001.

Header image: Conservation treatment on Jackson Pollock, Alchemy (1947), Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence.

For more information please visit:
https://www.guggenheim-venice.it/en/art/conservation/
https://www.guggenheim-venice.it/en/art/