The Science of Art Conservation to be Discussed at JLab in March

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Learn how the care and conservation of a work of art helps people better understand and appreciate its meaning by attending a public lecture to be held in March at Jefferson Lab.

Scott Howe, director of education and public programs from the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, will discuss the science of art conservation from 7-8 p.m. at Jefferson Lab on Tuesday, March 10.

Howe will discuss the painting "Madonna and Child" by Jan Gossaert. He will address the meaning of the painting, its physical changes over time, and efforts to learn more about the painting through conservator's tools, such as microscopes, X-ray, ultraviolet light and infrared imaging. The result will be an entirely new understanding of this 16th-century masterpiece – an understanding that wouldn't be possible without an array of scientific tools. Howe's discussion of the painting will provide the audience with an interesting mix of theology, science and history.

The presentation will be held in Jefferson Lab's CEBAF Center auditorium, located at 12000 Jefferson Ave., Newport News. It is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about science. The program will last about one hour and include a question-and-answer period at the end.

For security purposes, enter at JLab's main entrance (Onnes Drive.). Everyone over 16 is asked to carry a valid photo ID. Security guards may perform ID, parcel and vehicle checks.

For directions and information about other Jefferson Lab public lectures, visit http://education.jlab.org/scienceseries/index.php, or contact Christine Wheeler, wheelerc@jlab.org or call 757-269-7560.

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Jefferson Science Associates, LLC, manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, or Jefferson Lab, for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. JSA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southeastern Universities Research Association, Inc. (SURA).

DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science