From a conversation last year

8:00-Log on, look at current environmental data to see what’s happening in the stores and galleries. It’s a good day when there are no big fluctuations in humidity. 

8:15-Coffee with colleague Martin G. to run through the week ahead and any joint cons. issues/tasks. 

8:30-Walkabout to check visual arts work on display for any signs of damage or deterioration. Check Yeadon in Post-1900 gallery to make sure all the bulbs are working. Today they are!

Check that humidifiers are working – we currently employ one in Peace and Reconciliation Gallery and one in the Old Masters.

Catch up with Steve Shakespeare on work he is going to do in Peace and Rec. Gallery- alterations to a partition wall. Two pictures have to come down beforehand. 

9.00- Return to Conservation room and go through e-mails. Several require replies. Plus an enquiry about conserving ‘foil’ pictures. 

10.00- Next week with Natalie I am packing and condition checking the Peter Howson painting (Imperial War Museum loan), in Peace and Reconciliation. We plan to soft-wrap it so I sort out some bubblewrap, acid-free tissue and polythene. 

11.00-12.30- Continue cleaning Helen Coombe’s copy of a Botticelli. This circular picture has never been conserved and I am removing a disfiguring film or ‘bloom’. (Coombe was married to the influential art critic, artist and writer Roger Fry and we were recently able to acquire a painting by him ‘Italian Hill Town’ now on display in Post-1900).

12.30-1.30 - Lunch with Sandra, Stacey and Martin. Ann joins us this week so we have a civilising influence! 

1.30-Back to Coombe. 

3:45-Tea break – conservation is thirsty work 

4.00- Check Picture Store racks are clear for arrival of paintings which have been on loan to Swansea, but are returning later this month. 

5.00- Home time.