Collections & Research Staff
Heidi Sobol
Senior Paintings Conservator
B.F.A., Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, 1996
Master of Art Conservation, Queens University, 2000
Heidi Sobol has worked throughout North America, including the National Gallery of Canada and as a practicing paintings conservator in the private sector in Halifax, Nova Scotia. During her time in the Maritimes, Heidi provided the burgeoning arts community with an outlet to have their paintings conserved. Part of her time there was split with the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University where she taught a upper level course in the history of materials and methods in the art history department.
As the senior conservator of paintings, Heidi is responsible for the paintings at the ROM - whether they are constructed on flexible or rigid supports. The flexible supports are artworks like the paintings displayed in the Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada or the Canada's First Peoples Gallery. Rigid support artworks include the wall murals located in several galleries of the ROM, including the large early 14th century wall paintings in the Bishop White China gallery. Her conservation interests include technical art historical research and aqueous cleaning mechanisms of paintings.
The newly reopened paintings conservation lab's main objective is to bring paintings in need of treatment off the "operating table" and in front of the public's eye. "The diversity of the ROM's painting collection is outstanding", remarks Ms. Sobol. "Every world culture department has hidden gems - these paintings in a way define the breadth of our collection." Presently she has curated an exhibition in the Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada which goes behind-the-scenes in the paintings conservation lab ("Returned to Former Splendour" is on display until Spring 2009). "The show highlights our profession. Some say its a little like 'Crime Scene Investigation' and its kind of true. I just have better lighting".
You can read more about paintings conservation in the article, "To Conserve and Protect" in the December 2009 issue of ROM Magazine.
Other Links
Conservation
Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada
Podcasts
Iconic - The Paradise of Meitreya - January 14, 2010
This temple wall painting installed in the Bishop White Gallery of Chinese Temple Art forms the centrepiece of one of the world’s most important collections of Chinese temple art. Learn about this iconic ROM object, one of the best-preserved examples of its kind, and why it is a must-see treasure of the ROM.
Iconic - The Death of General Wolfe - September 12, 2009Video Podcast (16MB, 2mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)
This iconic painting recreates the pivotal moment in 1759 when Britain defeated France on the Plains of Abraham. As one of only five original versions painted by Benjamin West, it hangs in the Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada and is one of the Iconic 15: The Must-See Treasures of the ROM.
Returned to Former Splendor: Paintings, Conservation, and Dyes - January 09, 2009Video Podcast (17MB, 3mins)
Written Transcript (PDF)
Senior Paintings Conservator, Heidi Sobol offers a peek at the exhibition Returned to Former Splendor and discusses the conservation process involved in preparing the historical paintings now on display in the Sigmund Samuel Gallery of Canada.
Video Podcast (9.6MB, 10m 57s)
Written Transcript (PDF)
Contact Information
Conservation Department
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen's Park
Toronto, ON
M5S 2C6
t 416.586.5583
e heidis@rom.on.ca
Heidi Sobol, Senior Paintings Conservator, performs conservation work on a painting.
View of Heidi Sobol, Paintings Conservator, working on The Death of Wolfe under a microscope in the conservation lab.
