If an Oil Painting is preserved properly, it can keep its color unchanged for hundreds of years; otherwise, cracking, peeling off and discoloration of the color layer may occur. So, how to protect your Oil Painting from damage? The experience of a gallerist can be used for reference:
1. Two layers of natural beeswax pre-dissolved in turpentine can be thinly coated on the back of the canvas, which can completely prevent damage caused by the immersion of humid air.
2. Oil Painting should avoid long-term direct sunlight, because ultraviolet rays are very destructive to colors and will cause fading and discoloration.
3. The room where the oil painting is stored should pay attention to ventilation and moisture-proof, as far away as possible from the bathroom and kitchen, and pay attention to prevent damage to the canvas caused by dust, oil fume and mildew. The room should be kept at a certain temperature and humidity. Damp paintings must be dried slowly in the shade, and should not be exposed to the sun, otherwise the pictures will easily fall off.
4. Do not paste two pictures on the opposite side of the oil painting. Once the temperature rises, the pictures may stick together, causing the oil paint to fall off and the picture to be damaged.
5. When rolling an oil painting, use a paper tube of more than four or five inches. The canvas is flushed inward and the picture is flushed outward. Roll along with the paper tube, and then wrap the outside with plastic cloth to prevent the painting from cracking.
6. If the oil painting hanging on the wall is dusty, you can wipe it gently with a slightly damp clean cloth. If there is oily fume on it, you can gently try to scrub it with light soapy water and clean water, then quickly absorb the water on the screen with something absorbent, and then use an electric fan to blow the water away. If you encounter old Oil Painting with cracks, you must use less water and dry wipe them locally. Some people buy professional varnish for oil painting maintenance, which is okay, but before spraying, the picture must be wiped clean with a clean cloth. In addition, some professional auction houses and galleries can also help with cleaning.
7. Generally, Oil Painting can be preserved for two to three hundred years. As time goes by, some Oil Painting may crack after decades. Therefore, if you have a lot of collections, those works that are not hung can be wrapped in plastic cloth. Put it in a wooden box to prevent hard damage.
