Preservation Assessment for a Collection of Mexican and Spanish Colonial Religious Art

FAIN: PG-51568-12

San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (San Angelo, TX 76903-6911)
Karen Zimmerly (Project Director: May 2011 to December 2013)

Hiring a consultant to conduct a preservation assessment of a recently acquired collection of 131 Mexican and Spanish Colonial religious works of art, most from the 19th century, including painted tin retablos, paintings on wood and canvas, carved wooden santos, crucifixes, and architectural elements. The consultant would make proposals for conservation treatment and provide recommendations for improving storage and environmental conditions.

The museum was presented a gift of Mexican Spanish Colonial artifacts that is comprised of 131 objects including paintings on wood, canvas, and tin, carved wooden statues, crucifixes, architectural elements, and miscellaneous objects. The objects date largely to the mid- to late-19th century. These artifacts have been inventoried and photographed, but at this point none of the objects have been accessioned into the museum’s collection. This collection fits accurately in the guidelines of our Collections Policy and is germane to our region and the population, since San Angelo lies relatively close to the Mexican border and has a population that is over 40% Hispanic. It is thus very important to conserve these artifacts and keep them in stable condition. This grant would fund a survey of this collection by a professional objects conservator, which would enable the Museum to determine the next steps needed for proper conservation and provide an idea of the costs involved.