LONDON.- The first major exhibition of its
kind,
Close Examination: Fakes, Mistakes and Discoveries celebrates the
remarkable
collaboration of scientists, conservators and art historians at the
National
Gallery. The National Gallery’s Scientific Department was founded in
1934 and
has become a world leader in the study of the materials and techniques
of
Western European paintings. Today, the department works ever more
closely with
curators and conservators to investigate the physical characteristics of
works
in the collection and to protect paintings for the future.