Test tells if artwork is fit to travel

摘要

Researchers at University College London and art conservators have developed a method to diagnose the state of painting canvases from the back, without disturbing a single fibre, to see if they can withstand the stress of handling and travel. The method is similar to the way doctors measure blood sugar without the need for needles and has been used to examine 12 paintings by the surrealist painter Salvador Dali. Canvases degrade with time due to acidity and environmental conditions. Once a canvas is brittle, expensive conservation is required.