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Rating: 
Summary: A very informative overview
Review: I read this book when I was applying for a graduate program in the restoration of easel paintings. I needed to get a broad--but also reasonably in-depth--overview of types of damage to paintings and restoration and preservation techniques, and this book was great for that. It thoroughly covers all types of damage to paintings on panel and fabric support, along with corrective and preventive techniques. As I mentioned before, it covers a whole range of areas while still giving them sufficiently in-depth attention. There are tons of color illustrations that are invaluable in helping you understand what they're talking about. I didn't rate it five stars for two reasons: (1) it frequently describes the use of specialized equipment used by restorers, and if you're not familiar with this equipment it can be kind of difficult to completely follow what they're describing, and (2) it also doesn't have the most up-to-date information. Not that the information that is there is out of date by any means, but if you're interested in cutting-edge restoration theory, this book is not going to have it. But from what I gather, this book is one of the most highly regarded in the restoration field (the faculty of the program I applied to keeps it on-hand as a reference book). Also, be warned--if you're looking for information on wall paintings, this is not going to have it. It just covers panel paintings.
Rating:
Summary: A very informative overview
Review: I read this book when I was applying for a graduate program in the restoration of easel paintings. I needed to get a broad--but also reasonably in-depth--overview of types of damage to paintings and restoration and preservation techniques, and this book was great for that. It thoroughly covers all types of damage to paintings on panel and fabric support, along with corrective and preventive techniques. As I mentioned before, it covers a whole range of areas while still giving them sufficiently in-depth attention. There are tons of color illustrations that are invaluable in helping you understand what they're talking about. I didn't rate it five stars for two reasons: (1) it frequently describes the use of specialized equipment used by restorers, and if you're not familiar with this equipment it can be kind of difficult to completely follow what they're describing, and (2) it also doesn't have the most up-to-date information. Not that the information that is there is out of date by any means, but if you're interested in cutting-edge restoration theory, this book is not going to have it. But from what I gather, this book is one of the most highly regarded in the restoration field (the faculty of the program I applied to keeps it on-hand as a reference book). Also, be warned--if you're looking for information on wall paintings, this is not going to have it. It just covers panel paintings.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent and detailed text on painting conservation
Review: This is an excellent overall and very detailed view of the conservation of paintings. Actually it is one of the most thorough and up to date books on the subject I have ever seen. Very well written and documented with many photographs and an extensive bibliography and many notes for further research. This book clearly shows the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed and in use today by professional conservators around the world and it could easily be used as a complete reference book for those interested in the subject or even as a textbook for anyone studying art conservation.
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