ABSTRACT
To the general report on the work carried out up to 1785 was attached a “Preliminary discussion for the conservation plan to be put in place for the possible preservation and the improved maintenance of public paintings” (Dissertazione preliminare al piano di custodia da istituirsi per la possible preservazione e per il miglior mantenimento delle pubbliche pitture). In this document, Edwards put forward his ideas on the behaviour of oil paintings and on the possibility of being able to slow down the deterioration process, and a dissertation to which it was to serve as an introduction: the “Practical plan for the general conservation of public paintings” (Piano pratico per la general custodia delle pubbliche pitture), in which he examined the necessary precautions to be taken for the good conservation of the paintings, for the elimination of infiltrations of humidity and water vapour and other incidents which might prove damaging, a complete and admirable programme for the maintenance of paintings and their environment.
