I'm very glad I went to Delaware. The program was a perfect fit for me. Coddington's job encompasses both the protection and preservation of works of art, as well as the hands-on restoration of damaged pieces. A work of art can be damaged by light, heat, water and contact with people or other objects. When figuring out the extent of damage and the best way to repair it, a conservator may use tools as sophisticated as infrared light and as simple as a titanium blade.
Contemporary conservators emerge from school with core training in basic principles.
And, technology is enabling them to better understand why and how certain materials age, which dovetails with the growing emphasis on damage prevention. To preserve the paintings. Whether a piece of art is going to be in a private home or a public museum, conservators try to ensure a stable environment. This means controlling the light, the temperature, the humidity and the relationship among these conditions. Preventing contact with ultraviolet light, perhaps by coating windows or screening the canvas in plexiglass, is essential.