Protecting Artwork

The Washington Post is carrying a good article on how mueseums are protecting artwork from vandalism and direct attacks.The woman who was arrested and hospitalized after attacking a Gauguin at the National Gallery came back last week and went after a Matisse.  Each time, the art was not damaged, although the original frame of the Plumed Hat by Matisse was.  There is a fine line between allowing meaningful public access and the ability to properly protect the art.

Museums use many different methods to protect art, such as motion detectors, ropes, security cameras and guards, yet these dont give much protections agianst a direct attack that might bring damage to the piece.  Being overly protective also has its drawbacks as the personal experience of viewing is dimished by plexiglass, ropes and bullet proof glass.

The Washington Post reports

The Mona Lisa, one of the world’s most iconic artworks, is behind bulletproof glass at the Paris museum. It was stolen on Aug. 21, 1911, and was missing for two years before a Louvre employee was caught trying to sell it to an Italian museum. It also has been attacked at least four times — with acid, with a rock, with red paint and even with a teacup, which was purchased at the museum and hurled by a Russian woman angry that she had been denied French citizenship.

Art insurance companies such as AXA Art Insurance are pushing museums to employ more protections against vandalism — recommending specialized training for guards and the latest in motion detectors.
“When I heard [the National Gallery suspect] attacked a second time, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ ” said Robert Pittinger, AXA’s director of underwriting. “We always have to be concerned about preserving art for future generations. In this case, we were lucky it wasn’t damaged.”
Mike Kirchner, director of security for Harvard Art Museums, says the first line of defense is alert guards and museum employees.

“Everyone has to start a relationship with a smile, a nod, a good morning with people coming into the museum,” he said. “You can scan the crowd, you can try to look for people who don’t want to make eye contact. Everyone should always be on alert.”

To read the Washington Post article, click HERE.