In June, Kateryna Bozhavel, an art conservator with the Restoration and Conservation Department of the War Museum, completed a professional training programme at the main branch of the National Research and Restoration Centre of Ukraine in Kyiv. The programme was entitled “Fundamentals of the Conservation and Restoration of Easel Oil Paintings”.
Over the course of two weeks, under the supervision of Anastasiia Chernychenko, a senior art conservator of the highest qualification category, Kateryna combined theoretical study with practical work. She took part in conservation and restoration work on two objects from the Museum Fund of Ukraine: the icons “Saint George the Dragon Slayer” and “Saint John the Warrior”.
During the training, Kateryna mastered modern methods of correcting deformations and repairing tears in the support, consolidating the paint layer, removing surface dirt, retouching losses, and applying a protective varnish coating.
In addition to the practical work, the participants attended a series of lectures on the physicochemical examination of museum objects, the particular requirements for their storage, and the preparation of scientific restoration documentation. They also became familiar with modern equipment used in conservation and restoration work.
The continuous improvement of the professional skills of museum conservators is an important part of the War Museum’s work, as the preservation of cultural heritage and museum collections for future generations depends on their expertise.
