1. The Narrative of Objects
Conservation, Capture, and Collaboration
Arielle Juler
Paul McNulty
National Galleries Scotland

2. Before treatment detail of John Wauchope by Sir Henry
Raeburn (NG 681)
After treatment detail of John Wauchope by Sir Henry
Raeburn (NG 681)

3. Frame Gilding in Conservation Studios

4. Transportation of A Girl by Ron
Mueck (GMA 4821) to Aberdeen

5. Unpacking the crate of A Girl by
Ron Mueck (GMA 4821)

6. Annotated image for condition report of
Francesca da Rimini by William Dyce (NG 460)

7. Examination of work within painting studio
Francesca da Rimini by William Dyce (NG 460)

8. Press asset capturing event in Portrait Gallery

9. Picture Library asset with copyright
information.

11. “The Death of the Stag” by Benjamin West

12. NG 2448 “The Death of the Stag” by Benjamin West
time
before treatment

13. NG 2448 “The Death of the Stag” by Benjamin West
time
infra-red photography

14. NG 2448 “The Death of the Stag” by Benjamin West
time
video recording of
in-situ treatment

15. NG 2448 “The Death of the Stag” by Benjamin West
time
microscopic cross-
section

16. NG 2448 “The Death of the Stag” by Benjamin West
time
close-up detail
photographs

17. NG 2448 “The Death of the Stag” by Benjamin West
time

18. groundwork
• all folders scanned for assets
• assets placed in central location
• location/filename captured

21. pre-ingest spreadsheet
• simple focus
• provided framework
• highly collaborative
• filtering / sifting

23. metadata add
• accession number provides fixed point
• sensitive to object timeline
• coarse and fine granularity

24. D 1173
treatment
after treatment
transmitted light
detail
back
2nd repair
D 1173
treatment
during treatment
visible light
full front
unframed
mounting
weights

25. D 1173
treatment
after treatment
transmitted light
detail
back
2nd repair
D 1173
treatment
during treatment
visible light
full front
unframed
mounting
weights

26. D 1173
treatment
after treatment
transmitted light
detail
back
2nd repair
D 1173
treatment
during treatment
visible light
full front
unframed
mounting
weights

28. Outcome:
18 000 assets ingested with full
metadata attached
Process overview:
triage
scan
annotate
ingest

29. Positive subsidiary effects
• DAMS clinic
• new file-naming protocols
• best practice identified
• structured approach to asset capture
leading to improved asset management across
department and wider institution

30. Welcome Screen of DAMS database.

31. Search results for Ultra Violet lighting type,
with objects and cross section examinations.

32. Installation images for Artist Rooms Jeff Koons
exhibition.

33. Shared lightbox for a joint curatorial/conservation catalogue project.

34. Arielle Juler - Assistant to the Keeper of Conservation
EF Paul McNulty - Data Consultant
National Galleries of Scotland -
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/