Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies

Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies
Name	Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies
Established	1928
Parent organization	Harvard Art Museums
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Director	Narayan Khandekar

Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies. It is a world-renowned art conservation and scientific research facility within the Harvard Art Museums system. Founded in 1928, it is one of the oldest and most influential centers for the technical study of art in the United States. The center integrates advanced analytical chemistry, materials science, and art history to preserve cultural heritage and deepen scholarly understanding.

History and establishment

The center was established in 1928 through a generous bequest from Denman Waldo Ross, a noted art collector and Harvard University professor. Its founding was significantly advanced by Edward W. Forbes, then director of the Fogg Museum, who championed the scientific study of art. A pivotal moment came in 1951 with a major endowment from Straus family patrons, Edith Rosenwald Straus and her husband Leonard L. Straus, formally establishing the current name. This period saw the center pioneer the integration of conservation science into mainstream museum practice in America, influenced by early collaborations with institutions like the National Gallery of Art.

Mission and functions

The core mission is the preservation, technical analysis, and material understanding of artworks within the Harvard Art Museums collections and beyond. Its primary functions encompass conducting in-depth technical art history research, performing conservation treatments on a wide range of objects from ancient art to contemporary art, and providing essential training for future professionals. The center serves as a crucial educational resource for Harvard University students and fellows, bridging the disciplines of science and the humanities. It also engages in collaborative projects with global entities like the Getty Conservation Institute.

Notable projects and research

The center has been instrumental in landmark studies, such as the technical examination of Vincent van Gogh's paintings, revealing his complex use of pigments and binding media. Researchers have conducted definitive analyses on the materials and techniques of Italian Renaissance masters, including Sandro Botticelli and Piero della Francesca. A major ongoing initiative involves studying the degradation of cadmium sulfide pigments, known as cadmium yellow, in works by modern artists like Henri Matisse. Other significant work includes the analysis of ancient Chinese bronzes and pre-Columbian artifacts, often employing techniques like X-ray fluorescence and multispectral imaging.

Facilities and laboratories

Housed within the Harvard Art Museums building in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the center occupies state-of-the-art laboratories specifically designed for art analysis. Key facilities include a dedicated paintings conservation studio, laboratories for organic materials and inorganic materials analysis, and a sophisticated imaging and documentation suite equipped with digital microscopy and infrared reflectography. The center also maintains a comprehensive scientific instrumentation lab featuring scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Its study collection of historical artists' materials is an invaluable resource for comparative research.

Leadership and notable staff

The center's first director was Rutherford J. Gettens, a pioneering figure in conservation science. Later leadership included Arthur Beale, who expanded the center's scientific capabilities and educational programs. The current director is Narayan Khandekar, a senior conservation scientist known for his work on modern paintings. Historically, notable staff has included Eugene Farrell, a leading expert in paintings conservation, and Katherine Eremin, a specialist in geological materials analysis. The staff frequently collaborates with Harvard University faculty from departments such as Chemistry and Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Impact and legacy

The center's impact on the field of museum conservation is profound, having helped establish it as a rigorous scientific discipline. Its educational programs have trained generations of conservators and scientists who now lead departments at major institutions worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum. The center's research publications, such as those in the journal Studies in Conservation, set international standards for methodology. Its legacy is one of pioneering the collaborative model between conservators, scientists, and art historians, fundamentally shaping the practices of modern cultural heritage preservation.

Category:Harvard Art Museums Category:Art conservation organizations Category:Research institutes in Massachusetts