Professional Insurance Appraisals & Estimating

Many insurance policies cover water damage to paintings; however no policy covers accelerated aging. Patrick B. King & Associates recently received a very interesting assignment. The claim asserted that a watercolor had suffered water damage from high humidity . The piece was examined in King’s studio. What appeared to be a "water ring" on the painting was actually the deterioration of the pigment. Mr. King theorized that humidity was not the cause and suspected excessive illumination was the culprit. He was able to prove this after his inspection of the residence where the art work had been displayed. Basic measurements and light readings were collected. King was able to prove conclusively that the damage was caused by the lighting conditions under which the painting was displayed. The installed track lighting reflected directly onto the surface of the watercolor. Over time, the high light levels simply caused a deterioration of the pigment.

The lighting chosen to illuminate works of art can greatly affect the life span of the piece. Various scientific studies conducted by institutions specializing in conservation practices now permit estimates of the probable damage per lux (unit of illumination). The results have been used to formulate recommended levels of light for use in museums or other institutions. The modern consensus, according to Dr. Stuart Kurtz of the University of Chicago, is that the maximum level of illumination for particularly vulnerable subjects, such as water colors, should not exceed 50 lux per hour. The effect of light is cumulative. Sensitive materials, (such as water based pigments, photographic emulsions, etc.) may show fading after just a few years of exposure to high light levels.

Ó Copyright Patrick B. King & Associates 2008