History of Picture Lighting
The History of Picture Lights
Light has served as an important element in art through the ages, starting from as far back as the medieval times, when electric lamps were centuries away from invention. Illuminated manuscripts from the 1500’s shows abundant use of gold and silver, which would capture sunlight and create a sense of sacredness each time the manuscript page turned. Centuries later, the famous impressionist Claude Monet experimented with colors to create light and shade, thus portraying different seasons in his paintings. Though early artists did not have access to artificial light to produce certain effects for display, the incorporation of light into their works suggests the tremendous effect it would have on art.
While artists were able to experiment with colors and illuminate their works with natural light, it was not until the discovery of electricity and commercial light bulbs that picture lights have become common in galleries. Unlike natural light, artificial lights would allow galleries and museum professionals to control intensity and placement.
The first and oldest type of bulbs that were used to light galleries were incandescents. These lights were invented in the early 19th century and when brought upon paintings, they produced a warm glow and accentuated the red and yellow spots on the canvas. Though it did produce a flattering and warm feeling, it flattened the blue and green areas and gave off an unbalanced view. Fluorescent lights were commercialized some decades later and began to be used as picture lights as well. However, they are now rarely used for this purpose, as their extreme color temperature and high emission of UV rays are likely to distort original colors of an artwork. Another type of lighting that exposes paintings to potential damage is halogen lights, which produces pure white light. Halogen lights could be an acceptable choice for display if installed correctly, but it is not a favorite among many museums due to its generation of heat.
Light-emitting diodes, commonly referred to as LED lights, emerged in more recent years, as professionals sought out substitutes for incandescent and neon lamps. LED generates cool light, and when used as a picture light, it would both accentuate the prominent colors of an artwork and sharpen the overall image. Many world-class galleries have switched to, or are at least beginning to test this new development as they realize the advantage of installing LED lights, such as low maintenance cost and energy efficiency. Among these museums and galleries are the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery in London. Prior to this improvement, the National Gallery had tungsten incandescent lights installed for its exhibits. The new LED lighting system resulted in a significant reduction of maintenance costs, as LED lamps have a lifetime about 25 times greater than the previously used tungsten filaments. Further, the Gallery has been able to reduce its carbon dioxide emission by a significant measure, as well as eliminate any harmful ultraviolet rays. LEDs, therefore, have become the top choice for art lighting.
In many aspects, picture lighting has become easier and more environmentally-friendly over the decades. The commercialization and advancement of artificial light have provided increasing flexibility to artists and gallery curators, as they can now control the intensity and style of lighting to produce their desired effects on every piece of art displayed. In the end, efficient and well-adjusted lighting would not only reveal the true aesthetic beauty of a painting, but also improve the quality and atmosphere of the exhibit. Perhaps this is the reason the world of art continues to seek improvements in display and find the harmony between the artwork and viewer.