Not lining in the twenty‐first century: Attitudes to the structural conservation of canvas paintings

Developments in the structural conservation of canvas paintings, particularly regarding lining, were evaluated through a series of surveys carried out by questionnaire in 1975, 1984 and 2001. The 1975 survey reflected the end of an era when wax‐resin and glue‐paste lining were dominant. In the years between 1975 and 1984 there was a rapid growth in lining technology, and synthetic adhesives such as BEVA 371™ had become more popular. An important finding of the 1984 survey was that lining practice had become more diverse and most practitioners employed more than one form of lining. In 1984, lining was considered as a treatment of last resort, whereas the most recent survey recorded a widespread rejection of lining. The results of the 2001 questionnaire are discussed in detail, the most significant finding being the considerable change in attitude. Many practitioners now describe themselves as having become more minimal in their approach, preferring alternative treatments to lining.