The Hermitage

On Monday 24th March I happened to see a television interview with a
Canadian businessman who was promoting the use of UV absorbing film
for windows at the Hermitage.  He indicated that the film would cut
out all of the harmful UV radiation, which would enable the
Hermitage to remove their curtains, and have more light for better
and "safer" viewing of the paintings.

This "preservation expert" doesn't appear to understand that all
light is harmful, and that eliminating the UV alone will not
eliminate the hazards of light light exposure.  Perhaps the film he
is promoting also reduces overall light transmittance, but his
description of the product did not sound promising.

Does anyone know about this project, its scope and the materials
being recommended?  If indeed the film is simply UV absorbing does
anyone have the contacts to warn the Hermitage that the end result
of this "solution" could be worse than the original problem?  ...or
at least to advise them to stick with the curtains?!

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:77
                   Distributed: Monday, March 3, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-10-77-006
                                  ***