Is it possible for a painting to ‘age’ and improve in the same way a wine does?
To help answer this intriguing question, we reached out to Peregrine Luxford, a contemporary art conservator known for his work with both modern installations and 19th-century oils.
Peregrine Luxford answers:
“Artworks do indeed change over time—but the way they ‘age’ is not quite like my favourite Bordeaux. Paintings accumulate a history through subtle chemical shifts, the darkening of varnishes, or tiny cracks in the canvas, which many collectors refer to as a work’s ‘patina.’ These changes can sometimes create a kind of personality, yes—especially if the work is sensitive to its environment. A sunlit wall versus a dim, cool room will make the same painting appear almost like two different characters over decades. I’ve seen a collector move a once-muted landscape; in its new location it bloomed with warmth after fifty years, almost as if it had developed a private sense of humour. In a way, the painting is alive through time, even if it never breathes.”
Curious fact: Some artists actually anticipate this aging. The 18th-century painter Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin famously chose pigments he knew would mellow over decades, almost like crafting a portrait of the future itself.
Next week, we’ll explore: “Can a sculpture have mood swings?” with Esmerelda Pink weighing in.