A lecture on the technical analysis of Amorsolo's works to be presented by Ricky Francisco

Contrary to the belief that science and art are on opposite poles, both fields do come together to generate new knowledge. In the context of a museum such as the Lopez Memorial Museum, the coming together of science and art is in the work of conservation. An aspect of painting conservation is the technical analysis of artworks. On March 27, 2010 (Saturday), 2-4 pm, a lecture on a preliminary technical analysis of the works of Fernando Amorsolo will be given by Ricky Francisco, collections management consultant of the Lopez Memorial Museum. The lecture will go into the process of technical analysis and the findings.

Francisco has been working for museums for 8 years.  He is an advocate of preventive conservation and has received training from the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) in Bangkok (2002) and Rome (2008), has briefly apprenticed with several conservators and is actively creating an association that aims to teach people working with heritage collections proper collection management strategies and skills.

As collections management consultant of the Lopez Memorial Museum and during his internship at the National Heritage Board in Singapore, Francisco undertook technical analysis using data on the styles of artists found in Philippine art history books and other materials. He learned how to conduct visual examination of the visible properties of their works using the naked eye and equipment such as stereomicroscope, macrophotography and digital image manipulation.

This Saturday, he will discuss how paintings exhibit cracks and note the physical changes wrought on the artworks by the passage of time and outsourcing analyses by specialists on canvas and pigment identification. By these means, the participant may be able to gain a better understanding of the artists, their art and the collection as a whole. Lecture fee is P120.
 

The Lopez Memorial Museum is at the ground floor, Benpres Building, Exchange Road corner Meralco Avenue, Pasig City. Museum days and hours are Mondays-Saturdays, 8am-5pm, except holidays. To reserve your slot in this lecture, call (632) 6312417 and look for Fanny or email admin@lopez-museum.org or pezseum@skyinet.net. You may also go to the museum’s website www.lopez-museum.org  and its blog www.pezseum.blogpost.com for information.