The Locksmith (detail), Jusepe De Ribera, Dulwich Picture Gallery collection

conservation information

Given the responsibility of housing one of the UK's most important collections - one of our principle duties is to conserve our priceless works of art.

Conservation information

This is a particularly exciting time for conservation at Dulwich Picture Gallery. We have just launched a new selection of Adoption candidates for next year. This is the largest expansion that the Adopt an Old Master scheme has undergone since its establishment in the late 1980s, including over 70 paintings that are in need of help.

  • Head of a Man

    It is always exciting when a painting returns to the Gallery from the conservator’s studio, a recent one being Isaac Fuller’s Head of a Man.

    Head of a Man (detail), Isaac Fuller, Dulwich Picture Gallery collection

  • Young Man as a Shepherd

    Another painting to recently return from conservation is Peter Lely’sYoung Man as a Shepherd.

    Young Man as a Shepherd (detail), Peter Lely, Dulwich Picture Gallery collection

Frames need conserving too. The Adoption scheme also aims to preserve the frames that display the Gallery’s wealth of important paintings.  Many of the pictures on the Adopt an Old Master list also have a frame in need of attention and in some cases do not have one at all. Accordingly a new one will need to be carved in the style of the original. Again, it is you who can help.

See Adopt an Old Master for more information on the Adoption scheme and how you can help or make a donation.