Verso University: The Art of Restoration

Wednesday, November 11, 6:30 to 8:00 PM | Location: Komansky Room | Registration Fee: $5

Course Details

Master Conservator Troy J. Amuso takes audiences behind the canvas in this visually engaging illustrated lecture on fine art restoration. Drawing on four decades of experience, Troy reveals the hidden environmental and human factors that threaten oil paintings, and the intricate processes used to restore them. Attendees will gain insight into the principles, science, and artistry that bring paintings back to life while preserving each artist’s original intent. Real before-and-after case studies bring the subject to life, including the recovery of fire-damaged works and the uncovering of lost artist signatures. The program concludes with a lively Q&A.

You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of what causes paintings to deteriorate and how it can be prevented, what restoration reversibility means and why it matters, and what it actually looks like when a master conservator uncovers a lost signature or brings a fire-damaged work back to life. It’s a rare behind-the-scenes look at a field most people never get to see up close.

About the Instructor

Troy Amuso began his career in 1977 as an apprentice to Dutch art conservator Yan Vanderviver in Westchester County, NY. From his early years working in New York, Connecticut, and Los Angeles, Troy earned a respected reputation for his meticulous approach to oil painting restoration. In 1996, he and his wife, consultant and producer Denise DiGrigoli, founded Troy Fine Art Services with studios in Fairfield, CT and Sheffield, MA. His work follows a strict code of professional standards and care: each restoration must be archival, reversible, and true to the artist’s original vision.

About Verso University

• Classes are usually structured as a consecutive series.
• Class size is often limited.
• Each series has a one-time registration fee covering all classes in the series.
• Registration is mandatory.
• The Westport Library wants to ensure that all interested students are able to participate in Verso University courses. If the registration fee is a barrier to entry for you, please contact JConnon@westportlibrary.org.

Verso University is the Library’s lifelong learning and education initiative, serving up year-round offerings of classes, workshops, and lectures designed to further education and learning. Offerings run the gamut of educational opportunities, ranging from one-time lectures to ongoing courses to classes that meet weekly or perhaps monthly.

Verso University programs are made possible by the generous support of the Nancy J. Beard Lifelong Learning and Education Fund.

Library Refund Policy

Programs, prices, and dates are subject to change. Tickets are non-transferable between events but may be passed along to another attendee. All sales are final. Refunds are issued only if The Westport Library cancels an event outright. In the case of a postponement or reschedule, refunds are not guaranteed provided the event takes place within 12 months of the original date. Refunds, when applicable, are issued in the original form of payment.