Conservation is Forever

Once a work has entered the museum’s collection, it will remain there evermore: it is inalienable. It can be neither transferred nor sold (but may be loaned or deposited).

Once acquired, the work is recorded in the museum’s inventory, along with other information about the article (measurements, acquisition method, description, etc.).The work is also given an inventory number composed of the year it entered the collections and in what order.

Painting before restoration

Every 10 years, the museum is legally required to inspect the collections, which means verifying that each work is present. The last inspection at the Musée des Augustins was in 2008. It must be remembered that, once included in the inventory, artworks involve considerable expense: they may subject to restoration, research, and studies, and must either be exhibited or carefully stored in the museum reserves.

Painting after restoration

It is for the sake of future generations that a work remains forever in the public collections. But “forever,” which shelters works from swings in trends and tastes, also means increased responsibility for those curators who decided to purchase or accept the donation of the works.