CONSERVATOR — A TECHNICIAN OR AN ARTIST?

The questions with regard to establishing of a strict demarcation line between the extents to what a conservator may be called an artist and to which a specialist in a technical field form a source of misunderstandings being especially typical for those not im mediately concerned with the conservator’s work. The author puts forward a thesis that the conservator who is responsible for „therapy” of a material thing being a masterpiece of art in its objective sphere prevents the damage of its sense and essence, thus already enabling to call the conservation an artistical activity. The modern conservation technology together with the auxiliary sciences as, for instance, chemistry, physics or biology, though necessary and unevitable, should be described as playing servicing part when compared with tasks and objectives of the virtually artistic character. The artistic sensivity of a conservator should be active already at the first stages of his work starting with cleaning let alone such a serious job as removals of paint layers put by a strange brush. Even the most excellently developed and helpful physical or chemical methods under no circumstances are able to replace the artist’s eye or his in born, personal sensivity. The range of the artist- -conservator’s work comprises much broader activities than the stippling or reconstruction being the last steps in process of conservation