Condition reports are a cornerstone of professional care for artworks. Beyond serving conservators, they are essential for lenders, insurers, and curators: a well-made report establishes the artwork’s baseline, clarifies responsibility during transport and display, and reduces disputes by recording condition and provenance at a precise moment in time. Regular, consistent reports improve long-term preservation because they make it possible to spot changes early and to make informed decisions about conservation, packing and environmental controls.

Filling a condition report well is practical and methodical. Start with clear identification (title, artist, accession or inventory number, dimensions and materials), then write an objective description of the work and document every mark, tear, crack or previous intervention — use numbered, high-resolution photos (overall views plus close-ups of each issue) and reference those image numbers in the text. Add notes about past treatments, current display or storage location, environmental risks, and recommended next steps. Finish by dating, signing, and saving the report and all photos as a single, versioned record so anyone handling the object later can trace its history confidently.

Learn how to fill-in a condition report in this mircrolearning