Home › Arts & Literature › Exhibitions, Galleries & Museums › conservation

conservation

kon-ser-VAY-shun /ˌkɒnsərˈveɪʃən/

nounB2TOEFLIELTS

neutralformal

The preservation, repair, and prevention of deterioration of archaeological, historical, and artistic objects.

In art, conservation focuses on stabilizing and preserving the original materials of an artwork, rather than 'restoring' it to look brand new (which can sometimes destroy historical evidence).

The story behind the word. From the Latin conservare, meaning 'to keep safe, preserve, or guard', from com- (together) and servare (to keep, watch over). It shares a root with 'observe' and 'reserve'.

Word relationships

preservation: Preservation focuses on keeping something in its current state without change, while conservation can involve active scientific treatment and repair to prevent decay.

neglect: Neglect is the failure to care for something, leading to its decay and ruin, which is the opposite of conservation.

Commonly confused with

restoration: Restoration aims to return an object to its original appearance (often by adding new paint or materials), while conservation focuses on preserving the original physical fabric and preventing further decay.

Word family

conservator (noun): A person responsible for the repair and preservation of works of art or historical objects.
conserve (verb): To protect something from harm or decay.

Collocations

art conservation
conservation lab
conservation efforts
museum conservation

Example sentences

"The museum's conservation department spent months stabilizing the cracking paint on the medieval altarpiece." Preserving a delicate painting

Memory hook

Conservation is about 'conserving' (saving) the 'station' (state) of the art. Keeping safe from decay.

When not to use

Do not use when referring to environmental protection of forests and wildlife (unless in an ecological context, but here we focus on art/museums).

Fun facts

Museum conservators often use dental tools, surgical scalpels, and even lasers to clean dirt and old varnish off paintings without touching the original paint layer.