
Research Projects
Research into the technical history and materiality of photographs advances an understanding of artists' working methods, informs preservation policies, and guides exhibition and storage parameters.
How A Book Moves
Get an up-close view and understanding of a variety of photograph album structures documented during an ambitious item-level preventive conservation survey of the over a thousand photograph albums and photographically illustrated books held in the Department of Photographs.
A Hidden Photograph by Julia Margaret Cameron
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has appreciated Julia Margaret Cameron’s work since 1933, when the first acquisitions of her photographs were made. Only recently was it discovered that a second Cameron was hidden beneath Beatrice, a masterwork created by the artist in 1866. 151 years years later, the hidden portrait was revealed by cross-departmental colleagues at The Met.
Display of Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen Autochrome Plates: Anoxic Sealed Package and Lighting Conditions
Autochromes by Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen were displayed in near-anoxic conditions for one week in 2011. Presented here is the design and assembly of the sealed package that maintained these conditions.
Effects of Low-Oxygen Environments in the Light Fading of Six Dyes Present in the Autochrome Color Screen
The dyes present in autochrome color screens are extremely sensitive to light, so these early color photographs are commonly not displayed. The authors investigated the effectiveness of low-oxygen environments in delaying the fading of dyes used in the autochrome process.
Technical Investigation of the Effects of Light and Humidity on Diazotypes
Diazotypes are known to exhibit color change over time, presenting concerns for prints that may be exhibited. This article presents research investigating the effects of light exposure and climate.
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Conservation at The Met
The Metropolitan Museum houses a world-renowned complex of scientific research and conservation facilities, each of which serves as a training ground for conservators across a variety of specializations from around the world. This project list provides a small sample of conservation research activities across the Museum.