Where Art Meets Innovation

Conservation has long served as a meaningful point of collaboration between Cleveland-based Parker Hannifin and the Cleveland Museum of Art. At the CMA, the conservation team plays a critical role in caring for the museum’s internationally lauded permanent collection, advising on acquisitions, displays, loans, storage, and developing and executing treatments that improve the physical stability and interpretation of artworks. The highly technical nature of this work strongly aligns with Parker’s expertise in providing precision-engineered solutions for a broad range of industries, creating a unique opportunity for collaboration between the two institutions.

In 2014, when the CMA undertook the ambitious conservation of Caravaggio’s The Crucifixion of Saint Andrew (1606–7), the centerpiece of its Italian Baroque collection, Lapis Senior Conservator of Paintings Dean Yoder sought the expertise of Chris Griffin at Parker to design and build a groundbreaking antivibration microscope gantry. This specialized support system allowed Yoder to examine and treat the work in unprecedented detail by safely positioning and maneuvering a microscope over the large, delicate artwork. Fabricated in Parker’s Electronic Motion and Controls Division, the one-of-a-kind instrument significantly expanded the CMA lab’s capabilities. Later modifications automated the gantry, making it an essential tool for the entire conservation department.

Building on this shared history of innovation and excellence and guided by its mission to lead the way to a better tomorrow, the Parker Foundation has made a $1 million gift to the CMA in support of its work in conservation analytics. This transformative investment expands the museum’s analytical capabilities with advanced equipment that elevates its conservation program to new levels of innovation and scholarship, positioning it to rival and contribute to novel discoveries by leading institutions around the world. This state-of-the-art facility enhances conservators’ ability to conduct in-depth research into artists’ materials, methods, and practices, strengthening the care of the museum’s permanent collection and deepening public understanding of great works of art.

Memorialized with the naming of the Parker Hannifin Paintings Conservation Lab, this extraordinary gift further solidifies the CMA’s reputation as a leader in the preservation and understanding of world-class works of art, ensuring that the museum’s collections are cared for at the highest level. The partnership between Parker and the CMA stands as a powerful example of community collaboration and how advances in technology can elevate and bolster artistic excellence, opening new pathways for discovery.