The second iteration of the workshop on the patination of bronze sculpture was developed in collaboration with Andrew Baxter and Steve Roy (Bronze et al, Ltd.), experts in patination and metalworking with over three decades of experience working with foundries, artists, and conservators.

Getty Museum’s sculpture collections provided the backdrop for this three-day workshop, which equipped conservators with the practical skills and knowledge needed to better understand chemical patinas and their application and to effectively communicate with artists and fabricators about patination when necessary.

Patination of bronze and other copper alloys requires technical skills and familiarity with a wide range of materials and their interactions. As an introduction to this highly specialized practice, the workshop demonstrated the wide range of colors and effects that can be produced even with a limited number of solutions and pigments.

Focused on temperature, solution concentration, and layering, participants developed a foundational understanding of some of the most common patinas used in modern sculpture, which in turn helped to inform technical examination and treatment of collections. Conceived with conservators in mind, the workshop also provided an overview of treatment strategies ranging from localized repairs to complete repatination.

The curriculum was the result of the combined expertise of Getty and the instructors. It was delivered through lectures and demonstrations, with a focus on practical exercises involving the use of a propane torch and patination materials, including pigments and solutions of ferric nitrate and cupric nitrate. Hands-on training was complimented by discussions centered on participant case studies and case studies from the Museum’s collection of outdoor bronzes.

The workshop introduced participants to:

• history of bronze patination
• chemistry of patination
• foundry practices
• hot and cold patination techniques
• aging and degradation of patinas
• approaches to treatment and maintenance

The workshop was held in person over three days in Los Angeles. Teaching materials were made available through an online learning platform before, during, and after the workshop.

Andrew Baxter, Principal, Bronze et al., LTD., Port Charlotte, Florida

Steve Roy, Principal, Steve Roy Art Restoration, LLC., Hopewell Junction, New York

Julie Wolfe, Conservator, Decorative Arts Conservation Department, Getty Museum

Robert Price, Associate Conservator, Decorative Arts Conservation Department, Getty Museum

Flavia Perugini, Senior Project Specialist, Getty Conservation Institute

Space for this workshop was limited to eighteen conservators specializing in the care of bronze sculpture.

Priority was given to applicants currently working with bronze sculpture. Candidates ideally had at least three to five years of experience with these materials and were in a position to share the knowledge and skills gained during the workshop with the conservation community.

The workshop language was English.

The workshop fee was USD $400 (four hundred US dollars). The fee included tuition, workshop materials, daily morning and afternoon tea/coffee breaks, and daily lunches.

Participants were responsible for round-trip transportation costs to Los Angeles, California, lodging, any applicable visa fees, and all other travel and incidental expenses.

For further questions, please contact gcisculpt@getty.edu.

The first iteration of this workshop was held October 24–26, 2023 at the Getty Center. The twelve participants included conservators in private practice, in museums, and in educational institutions from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Norway, and the United States.