Gallery Talk

Conservators in Action

Friday, February 20, 2026
2:00 pm–4:30 pm
Conservation Center
Included with General Admission

Filling and inpainting of a reassembled Mexican ceramic jar, likely made in the 19th century in the style of traditional búcaros de Indias (highly-decorated water vessels prized for their fragrant clay bodies which subtly infused the water with a pleasing taste and aroma), by Meghan Abercrombie, Gale R. Guild and Henry R. Guild Fellow for Advanced Training. Q and A session from 3–3:30 pm.

Add to Calendar 2026-02-20 14:00:00 2026-02-20 16:30:00 Conservators in Action 02/20/2026 2pm Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA Museum of Fine Arts, Boston [email protected] America/New_York public

Drop in to watch conservators in action as they clean, stabilize, and treat artworks for display. Visitors are invited to learn how conservators care for the MFA’s collections by viewing work in progress through the glass windows of the furniture and frame conservation lab. At select times listed below, conservators will also be available to talk to visitors, introduce projects, explain the work, and field questions.

Free with general admission. No advance registration or tickets required. Assistive listening devices available upon request.

Meet in the Conservation Center

Take the elevator outside the Bookstore and Shop in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art to the third floor.

Assistive listening device symbol

Assistive listening system

Wheelchair accessible symbol

Wheelchair accessible

Past Dates and Times

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Disassembly, after natural weakening over time of previous joins, and reconstruction of this fragmentary Etruscan jug by associate objects conservator Emilie Tréhu. Q and A session from 2–2:30 pm.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Disassembly, after natural weakening over time of previous joins, and reconstruction of this fragmentary Etruscan jug by associate objects conservator Emilie Tréhu. Q and A session from 2–2:30 pm.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Structural work and surface consolidation of two carved and painted Japanese architectural panels and two lacquer folding screens. Q and A session with Christine Storti, head of Furniture and Frame Conservation, from 12:30–1 pm.

Monday, February 26, 2024

Removal of dark tarnish from a pair of 17th-century Italian cabinets, richly decorated with coral, inlayed hardstone, tortoiseshell, and gold. Q and A session with Christine Storti, head of Furniture and Frame Conservation, from 12–12:30 pm.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Removal of dark tarnish from a pair of 17th-century Italian cabinets, richly decorated with coral, inlayed hardstone, tortoiseshell, and gold. Q and A session with Christine Storti, head of Furniture and Frame Conservation, from 1:30–2 pm.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Removal of dark tarnish from a pair of 17th-century Italian cabinets, richly decorated with coral, inlayed hardstone, tortoiseshell, and gold. Q and A session with Christine Storti, head of Furniture and Frame Conservation, from 10:15–10:45 am.

Friday, December 29, 2023

Retouching of the areas of loss on this Peruvian painting by assistant paintings conservator Rachel Childers.

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Retouching of the areas of loss on this Peruvian painting by assistant paintings conservator Rachel Childers.

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Retouching of the areas of loss on this Peruvian painting by assistant paintings conservator Rachel Childers.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Retouching of the areas of loss on this panel painting by assistant paintings conservator Rachel Childers. Q and A session from 3:30–4 pm.

Sponsors

Supported by the Jane Mayer and Robert J. Mayer, M.D. Fund.

Supported by the MFA Associates/MFA Senior Associates Fund for Conservation Programs.