How do I hang a heavy oil painting safely?

Ensure your wall fixings are secured directly into masonry or wooden wall studs rather than plasterboard alone. Heavy frames require sturdy picture wire and robust screw eyes rated for the weight of the piece. Hang the painting at eye level so the centre of the canvas sits roughly five feet from the floor. This viewing height matches standard gallery placement and reduces neck strain.

How do I date a framed landscape?

Examine the stretcher bars, nails and backing boards of the frame for signs of age. Hand-cut nails and older wood types often indicate nineteenth-century origins. Stylistic clues in the clothing of painted figures, framing materials and signatures also help narrow down the decade. Comparing the artist's recorded exhibition dates provides a reliable timeframe.

Where should I place a watercolour at home?

Watercolours are sensitive to ultraviolet light and fade quickly when exposed to direct sunlight. Hang them on interior walls away from south-facing windows. Keep paintings away from high-moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms where humidity damages paper and causes mould. Stable room temperatures protect both the paper and the surrounding mount.