Most of the objects we surround ourselves with require maintenance. Paintings are no different. They can be damaged in a number of ways, such as the varnish turning yellow due to the painting being exposed to polluted air over a number of years. There can also be a tear in the canvas and sometimes some of the paint has peeled off.

Aging, fluctuating temperatures, a change in the relative humidity, attack by micro-organisms, pollution, transportation and unfavourable storage conditions often present a threat to works of art. In order to ensure that paintings are able to retain their artistic worth and economic value into the future, insight, knowledge and considerable experience is required.