Aged artwork

Ageing is a process by which an artwork, typically a painting or sculpture, is made to appear old. It is meant to emulate the natural deterioration that can occur over many decades or centuries.

Paintings deteriorate over time because they are created using essentially incompatible materials, with each having a different reaction to the changes in the environment, including light, temperature and relative humidity.

An oil painting consists of several layers, comprising the base canvas, a layer of gesso base coat, several layers of the oil based paint and then several coats of varnish to protect the paint surface. With many different materials, it is understandable that each layer may dry at different rates and will also absorb and release moisture at different rates. When this occurs, expansion and contraction of the painting will result in a crazing of the varnish surface. This pattern of small cracks is known as craquelure. Along with the darkening or yellowing of the varnish surface, it is this visual representation of the cracking that is typically the primary indicator of ageing.

Florence, Italy has historically been a center of ageing craft, the process of ageing paintings and sculptures has been practised by a small number of artisans who have passed down the techniques through generations, with very little change over the years.

The purpose for artificially ageing is to create a finished product that accurately reflects an era or is consistent with the environment (usually period) into which it is to be placed.

The most obvious indication of the ageing of an item is the craquelure, or crazing pattern, on the surface. It is this cracking which instils a sense of age and history to the item, accurately representing the natural process of ageing.

See also

*Art conservation and restoration
*Art forgery