Touching the Past: Learning Art Conservation at the Art Gallery of Ontario

Yesterday (April 30), I joined the Museum Skillz youth event at the Art Gallery of Ontario, a hands-on introduction to the world of art conservation led by AGO specialists.

This session focused on how artworks are preserved, restored, and protected. We were introduced to several fascinating techniques used in repairing sculptures, restoring vintage objects, and cleaning delicate works like paintings on glass. Each method revealed a different layer of care behind the scenes, where science meets art to keep history alive.

We spent part of the session learning about the conservation of gold frames. Over time, these ornate frames can lose their shine, show signs of wear, or develop small cracks in the gilded surface. Conservators treat them with great care. They gently clean the surface, stabilize any loose areas, and, when needed, reapply gold leaf using careful techniques to restore it.

After learning about this process, we had the chance to try the gold leaf technique ourselves. It is a classical technique that was widely used to decorate frames during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. These gilded frames were not just decorative. They reflected light, making paintings glow in dimly lit churches and salons. They also helped set the artwork apart from the everyday world, marking a clear boundary between reality and the painting. In religious settings, the shine of gold added a sense of holiness and reverence, deepening the emotional presence of the work. Even today, this luminous material continues to carry a sense of timeless beauty.

An iconic example of gold leaf used in framing is the ornate surround of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus (c. 1485–1486). The gilded frame adds reverence and grandeur to the ethereal painting, anchoring it within the tradition of Renaissance prestige and spiritual devotion. During this period, gold was commonly used to signal importance, elevate status, and evoke divine beauty. In this context, the frame enhances Venus’s mythological significance and timeless appeal.

Another is Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907), in which gold leaf isn’t only on the frame but also part of the painting itself. The gold elevates Adele beyond reality, casting her as an almost mythical figure, both sacred and symbolic. It reflects wealth and social power. As a material that resists time, gold helps Klimt preserve Adele forever, both as memory and ideal

Applying gold leaf takes patience and care. The process involves preparing the surface and using a special liquid adhesive that helps the gold attach without harming the layers underneath. Then, thin sheets of gold are placed using soft brushes and special tools to bring out a smooth, glowing finish. Every step is done slowly and gently. Even the slightest motion affects how the leaf rests.

From my experience of working with this delicate material, I found that it takes you out of the harsh, busy, and noisy world for a quiet moment. The leaf in the air moves with every breath you take. The moment it touches the wood, it settles softly, becoming one piece, as if it had always been like that.

Working with gold leaf made me think about how I might use it in my own artworks, which often explore the relationship between light, space, and material.

All in all, this experience allowed me to discover the other side of the museum, the quiet, careful space where artworks return to life before reentering the gallery. Seeing how much time, thought, and care go into the restoration process gave me a deeper appreciation for what we eventually see on the wall.