Art Encyclopedia - Art Restoration

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Art Restoration
Art restoration is the process where an attempt is made to bring a work of art to a previous state that the art restorer imagines to be its original state. This was common practice in the past but these days art conservation is preferred over art restoration. In art conservation the concern is more with preserving the work of art for the future and less with making it look pristine.

The practice of art restoration is controversial because it often involves changes to the original artwork that is mostly irreversible. Recently art restorers are more aware of making all their restorations reversible for example the use of watercolours to touch up damages on fresco paintings.