In the rarified circles of upper-class art collections, great pieces of history can often be seen as mere private symbols of status and wealth. One would hope that when a powerful industrialist has collected some amazing pieces of art, what they truly desire is for their treasures to remain locked up within a safe or displayed within a monument dedicated to individual taste alone.
However, such a selfish approach misses the fragile nature of cultural conservation on a global level. Before a historic object could be appreciated by museum visitors or serve as a foundation for important scientific discoveries, it must pass through a long process of chemical renovation, archiving and extensive research.
