Conservator Tour: Frames and Gesso

Back by popular demand, senior conservation technician for paintings and frames restorer Dave Piurek leads a tour centered around gesso, focusing on gesso’s importance as the structural and aesthetic base of some of the CMA’s most ornate frames. Piurek discusses the techniques of pastiglia, burnishing, punchwork, recutting, and compo, and brings hands-on examples for guests to get a closer look.