Notes
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(Excerpt from ART HARDWARE: The Definitive Guide to Artists’ Materials, by Steven Saitzyk © 1987) Additional Notes About Stretched Artwork Should the back of a stretched canvas painting be sealed? A stretched work must breathe, so sealing the back can seal in moisture and dust, which may lead to mildew. Sealing also prevents easy inspection for the many problems that can arise. Nevertheless, the greatest dangers to a stretched artwork are dents, perforations, and tears from accidents and mishandling. If you feel that you need the extra protection of a backing, there is one method you should consider. Select a thin board—chipboard, masonite, or plywood, drill holes in it for air circulation, and place gauze over the holes to prevent dust from entering. This backing can be fastened to the frame along with the painting either by using spring clips, or by installing a strainer as shown below. Stretcher bar keys are little triangular pieces of wood, which are placed into the inside corner spaces of the stretcher bars and are tapped into place to force open the corners. This creates slightly more tension, which will remove sagging and wrinkles. Before hitting the keys, put a piece of cardboard between the canvas and the stretcher bars. If you slip, you will not damage the painting. Remove the protective cardboard pieces after you have adjusted the keys. On older paintings, even small dents may lead to serious cracks over the years. Just because you cannot see damage now does not mean it has not taken place. After your protective board is in place, give the keys a few gentle taps. If the wrinkles do not come out easily, give up!
Although it is rare that stretcher bar keys can fall out and locate themselves between the inside of the canvas and the stretcher bar, most conservators will take some precaution against this. There are two methods. The first one is to place tiny screw eyes in the keys and support bars and connect them with wire. The other is simply to tape them to the stretcher bars. The tape method is riskier because most pressure-sensitive tape adhesives age poorly, weaken, and fail.
(Excerpt from ART HARDWARE: The Definitive Guide to Artists’ Materials, by Steven Saitzyk © 1987)
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