ArtLex on Art Conservation

art conservation - Preservation from loss, damage, or neglect, stabilizing chemically and structurally, sustaining the survival of objects as long as possible in what is closest to their original form. The application of science to the examination and treatment of objects, and to the study of the environments in which they are placed — used, transported, and stored.

What differentiates art conservation from art restoration is the conservator's avoidance of adding anything to an object that cannot be easily removed or identified. Some also address restoration and other issues involving museology.

Among the most significant and controversial recent efforts of art conservation have been the cleaning of Michelangelo's fresco on the Sistine Chapel ceiling and of his marble sculptures, and similar work on art by Leonardo and other Renaissance artists.

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works at Stanford University has several pages on conservation specialties, advice about caring for objects of various types, health and safety, becoming a conservator, and more.
The Getty Conservation Institute "works internationally to further the appreciation and preservation of the world's cultural heritage for the enrichment and use of present and future generations."
Stanford U's Resources for Conservation Professionals. Available here: ways to look for finding people involved in this profession, news, and authors.
The Sculpture Center, Cleveland, OH, has a program on conservation of outdoor sculptures.
Art Conservation Program at Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY.
Tips for the conservation of photographs from the American Photography Museum.
University Products is an American supplier of conservation supplies.
PEL Products is a British supplier of conservation supplies.

Also see acid free, acid migration, archival image, blot, camphor flakes, cleavage, climate control, condensation, ephemera, forgery, fragment, hygrothermograph, inert, infrared reflectography (IR) and reflectogram, Japanese mending tissue, polyethylene, radiograph, reversible, stain and stain removal, storage, and thymol.