ArtWatch: The Scandal Behind Art Restoration

The fact that many of the world's greatest works of art have suffered serious deterioration over the centuries—sometimes from mistreatment or accident, but often because of the simple passage of time—has led to a veritable cottage industry in restoration…and controversy. ArtWatch profiles the titular organization in which artists and scholars have joined forces to protest the use of chemicals and synthetic compounds (that speed the restoration process), which they believe actually harms the artworks being preserved. Members of the group offer their observations about perceived damage to important pieces at such locations as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and the National Gallery in London (footage of public protests at some locations is also included), with the controversy over techniques used in the restoration of the Sistine Chapel receiving particular attention. By contrast, the interviewees praise the restoration methods at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, where historically appropriate paints and materials are employed and the work proceeds far more slowly. Interwoven throughout is coverage of the precedent-setting Italian trial in which American art history professor James Beck faced prosecution for publicly criticizing a restoration project (the verdict upholding the right to free speech was an important victory for the ArtWatch group). Although clearly a partisan production, ArtWatch presents a compelling argument and is therefore recommended for larger art history collections. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)