Conservation and Restoration

The post-war work of cataloguing and returning the stolen art

This lesson explores object conservation. It illustrates the damage done by the removal of works from public and private collections—and the ill effects of storing works of art in caves and mines during World War II. Students will explore the concept of conservation by discussing the materials used in making art and what can happen to those materials over time. They will watch art conservators working on objects damaged during the war, ponder ethical questions, and also consider what goes into the preservation and restoration of works of art and cultural/historical landmarks.

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This lesson plan is available as part of The Greatest Theft in History Educational Program. We’ll regularly be adding more teaching aids, interviews, photos, archival footage and other valuable information.

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