The Bowes Museum Blog

Hello, my name is Tor Skaaland and I have found my way to Barnard Castle and to The Bowes Museum as the new ICON Painting Conservation Intern. I am originally from Norway, where I graduated from the University of Oslo last year with a specialization in easel paintings. Before I came to The Bowes Museum I had an internship at the National Gallery of Denmark. I am delighted to be here, and expect to learn a great deal during my year at The Bowes Museum. The work based experiences I will get will be vital for my future career in conservation, while I also enjoy the great artworks at the museum and the English countryside.

Doing condition assessments in the picture galleries (Photo: Kayleigh Fuller)

My internship started in November, so I have already done a few things worth mentioning. When I arrived I did retouching on a painting depicting the harbour in Amsterdam. I have started to do some structural work and consolidation on a 17^th century painting of a Spanish friar. I have started to condition check and make a survey of the paintings on display in the picture galleries on the second floor in relation to the high level cleaning taking place at the moment. Also, I have assisted Conservation Manager Jon with investigations of the German panel painting of St. John the Baptist mentioned in a blog entry before Christmas.

Retouching of the painting. (Photo: Jon Old)

By Tor Skaaland, Paintings Conservation ICON Intern