Expert: Sara Tro - 10/23/2009

Question
We have a very old oil painting size 50"x70",we have tried different lighting but glare is present,unless the light is directly over the painting.Can we mount the lighting bar on the painting?
Thank you
Irwin

Answer
Hi Irwin,
thank you for writing!

So, the best placement for lighting if you want to get rid of glare is usually a light inset into the ceiling, or on a track above and in front of the painting.  For a piece that size, I would usually use two large floods, (or more), and angle the lights so that they cross beams;  ie, when looking at the painting, the light that is on your right will illuminate the left side of the art, the light on your left will reach the right side.  The beams will cross in the center.  Also, a 45 degree angle will produce the best results.   

If you have very high ceilings, or can't put track lights or can lights in for some reason, the art light that attaches to the frame can be okay, but usually they are not that powerful (which is good, for preservation), so you get uneven illumination.  The mounted art lights can fill a need, and can give a room a homey and traditional feel, if that's what you're after.  I've seen art illuminated that way in modern homes, and the contrast between modern and traditional looks pretty stunning.

I hope this helps!
Worst case scenario, you could bring the piece to a reputable conservator and have the high gloss varnish replaced with a matte version, but this alteration would possibly devalue the piece slightly, so only do that if you're so troubled by the glare that you can't enjoy the painting.

Good luck!
Sara