Canvas Backing Boards for Protecting Paintings on Canvas

All paintings on stretched canvas should have canvas backing boards as a preventive conservation measure. Installing a backing board on an auxiliary support (stretcher or strainer) will:

• protect the painting from damage from behind;

• prevent dirt and debris from falling between the stretcher bar and the canvas;

• buffer fluctuations in relative humidity (RH) by enclosing the backside of the painting;

• reduce vibration of the canvas in transit; and

• decrease the painting’s sensitivity to shock.