Replies

1. 
   Ozlander | Sep 12, 2009 04:27am | #1

   Seems to me that lights on the opposite wall would put your shadow on the picture.

2. 
   MarkDMacLeod | Sep 12, 2009 04:30am | #2

   you are right - and the typical fixture used above a painting supplies pretty poor light.

   A couple of options
   1. There are lights that can be place BELOW a painting that throw substantial light up the painting. I've seen them in commercial settings and they seem to work well. The mount very close to the wall and I think are halogen or LEDs.
   2. If possible- directed bezel pot lights in the ceiling adjacent to the painting. We have this with 3 small pots about 20 inches from the wall used to light a painting that is 9 feet high and 5 feet wide. They work extremely well.

   If all else fails do a dry run with the light held above the painting in the approximate position it would end up after being attached and see if the owner likes the amount of light that is cast.

   Hope this helps

3. 
   KenHill3 | Sep 12, 2009 04:42am | #3

   David-

   No specifics on the fixture, but I concur and I think you have all your thoughts in a row, so to speak. I also suspect that the 'billboard' type lights will indeed wash out the top and under-illuminate the lower area of the artwork.

   I recently spent 10 days in San Francisco, and that included the De Young Museum,SF MOMA, and Legion Of Honor. Lighting in those places is all located high and away, no shadows and very even. They obviously know how to do this! And there were a LOT of large flat art works.

   If it were me, I would try to experiment a bit before permanently installing/mounting.

   View Image
4. 
   migraine | Sep 12, 2009 08:22pm | #4

   https://www.solux.net/cgi-bin/tlistore/index.html

   customer of mine used these If I remember correctly

   Try contacting your local museum for some help.

   Maybe an Art School/college?

   I sent an email to a friend that is doing his masters and student teaching in Ohio(?).  He should know some more about it.  I'll let you know if I find anything.

1. 
   KenHill3 | Sep 12, 2009 08:32pm | #5

   Your link reminded me of the importance of color temperature, ie. Kelvin scale.View Image

2. 
   johnharkins | Sep 12, 2009 08:32pm | #6

   no expert & maintain a certified disdain for recessed lights
   but have used wideangle low voltage lights ( in recessed housing ) on dimmer for just this sort of thing & everyone has been pleasedconsider potential shadow element but three lights separated accordingly maybe 5' from wall painting is hanging on

1. 
   johnharkins | Sep 12, 2009 08:47pm | #7

   is the monorail approach along the lines of track lighting
   that would probably give you the most options in evolving into numero uno application ( depending on style of house )

1. 
   davidmeiland | Sep 12, 2009 09:32pm | #8

   Thanks to all for responses/ideas.

   John, monorail lighting is basically track lighting that is hung from the ceiling using cables. In this case the roof/ceiling is 6:12 so track would make the light heads non-parallel to the painting.

1. 
   KenHill3 | Sep 12, 2009 09:59pm | #9

   I don't think what you necessarily need is 'parallel'. Like I said 'high and away' as I observed in the SF galleries.Of course, whadda I know? I'm just another dumb carpenter, like Calvin. :o)

   Edited 9/12/2009 3:01 pm by kenhill3

2. 
   observer | Sep 13, 2009 03:02am | #13

   My father had a small collection of paintings he wanted to display and brought in a lighting specialist.The specialist pulled dimmer controlled circuits and installed an off-the-shelf wall mount track system where 'L' brackets held the track in standard horizontal orientation about two feet off the wall and a foot or so above the paintings. Various spots and shuttered floods were hung on the track to light the art fairly precisely. Biggest piece was about 4' x 5'.Worked well.

5. 
   Piffin | Sep 12, 2009 11:04pm | #10

   Probably needs a consult with a lighting expert, but I'm thinking a wall washer or three in the ceiling

    

    

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6. 
   junkhound | Sep 13, 2009 01:17am | #11

   8' wide and 7' tall, to be hung on a 14' high wall.

   Thinking a cathedral ceiling here also???

   If the painting is worth displaying well, skylights are the way to go.  Just my opinion. 

   I've been to the louvre, Riks, Getty, Chicago, National DC, etc. museums, and the naturally lit paintings are the best, esp when over cast outside ---  Really impressed with 'Wedding at Cana' in natural light at the louvre.  Saw the Mona 30 years ago, walk up close enough to touch, looked decent, nothing special to me though.  Again a few years ago with almost nobody there (5 people) and still did not look exceptional, 5 ft away rail that time.  Saw it again walking thru that gallery room in March this year, 600 people in the room 20 ft back ropes - might as well handed out printed copies on McD napkins IMO. 

   Saw the  vandalized Rembrandts at the Riks after they had been restored, behind glass, artificial lighting, etc....... Photos of the paintings in a good litho book look just as good (JMO)

   If artificial is what the owners want, my opinion would be a light ceiling, indirect valence lighting all around the room.  Broad spectrum (daylight or similar) fluorescent even vs any type of direct lightning.

1. 
   davidmeiland | Sep 13, 2009 02:44am | #12

   Yes, the ceiling is 6/12 pitch, 2x6 pine T&G that's a golden color, so no help there. No possibility of additional skylights, we have the roof off right now and it's going to be completely back on by the end of Tuesday. I'm wondering if what I need to do is rough in for ~3 fixtures hung from the ceiling, like so:

   http://www.techlighting.com/default.asp?page=products&subpage=fixturedet&fixid=105&sysid=&cls=1&nme=Heads

   Would need to happen Monday before the roofers get too far along. Just about 100% of my jobs end up with these last minute do-or-die deals. No one is willing to pay a lighting designer.

1. 
   brucet9 | Sep 13, 2009 08:16pm | #19

   I get the impression that this wall is a gable-end, so lights have to drop different lengths from the ceiling?I think the lights on independent rods as in your linked image would look better than monorail. There are also some picture lights available with barn doors (like theater spots) that can cut off the light in a square or rectangular pattern. Three lights would give plenty of overlap for even lighting across 8'.Other posters have suggested skylights which would indeed be wonderful if nobody wanted to look at the painting at night. :)BruceT

2. 
   john7g | Sep 13, 2009 03:47am | #15

   re: skylights, natural lighting will accelerate the fading

7. 
   rjw | Sep 13, 2009 03:41am | #14

   Any museums nearby where yo can talk to some experts?

   ---

   "Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

   Howard Thurman

   ---

   http://rjw-progressive.blogspot.com/

1. 
   davidmeiland | Sep 13, 2009 04:43am | #16

   There's one place showing art here, I guess I could check it out. Otherwise it's off to Seattle where there's some actual culture. Wouldn't hurt me, I guess, but I'd have to shave.

8. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Sep 13, 2009 03:49pm | #17

   http://www.haloltg.com/common/brands.cfm?pg=Detail&brandName=Halo&category=All%2DPro%20Recessed%20Downlighting%3A%204%22%20Low%20Voltage&id=12324

   View Image

   4" LV MR-16 housing - I'd use 4 fixtures @ 28" o.c. or so maybe 3' off the painting wall (testing needed)

   http://www.cooperlighting.com/specfiles/pdf/Halo/1496trimspecsheet.pdf

    

   View Image  (gimbled adjustable trims available in white)

   <eta - only if a flat section of ceiling available>

   Track lighting is just awful ... and the heads can 'die out' over time.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/14/2009 12:21 am ET by Jeff_Clarke

9. 
   Henley | Sep 13, 2009 04:00pm | #18

   I used to do painting installs. one thing
   I noticed in lots of galleries and private collections
   is versatility.

   Some simple track lighting, that allows different spots and
   or floods, while being able to change positions is an excellent approach.