Just before a painting is to be sold, transported for insurance purposes, it needs to be looked at carefully.

For this a full condition report must be elaborated:

A condition report is a document that analyses all the different layers of which a painting is made of, including frame, stretcher, glass or other.

For this we use an ultraviolet lamp, a microscope and other mechanical and chemical means.

Each one of these strata must be analyzed and noted in the report document:

• Support: canvas, cardboard, metal, wood, paper or other
• Preparation: layer found between the support and paint layer of different colors: white, brown, red or other
• Paint layer: oil, gouache, acrylic, tempera, watercolor, other
• Varnish layer: natural or synthetic resin
• Stretcher, and Frame and covering glass
• Other elements like attachments to hang on wall, etc.

This document should be checked at arrival and return of the art object, painting or other, and therefor, any damage that could have occurred during transport can be communicated and approved for the insurance.  Advice for packing and transport of each painting is necessary too.

Once this document is duly signed and approved, the painting or object can travel, sold or go on loan to an exhibition.