Museum and gallery lighting balances visibility against conservation. Light damages sensitive materials over time, so illuminance and cumulative exposure are strictly limited.
| Material sensitivity | Max illuminance | Annual limit |
|---|---|---|
| Highly sensitive (paper, textiles, watercolor) | 50 lux | about 50,000 lux-hours |
| Moderately sensitive (oil, wood, leather) | 200 lux | about 480,000 lux-hours |
| Insensitive (stone, metal, glass) | 300 lux+ | no set limit |
Protecting the work
Damage accumulates as lux-hours, so both intensity and exposure time count. Lower levels or limited display periods extend the safe life of fragile pieces.
Remove ultraviolet and infrared with filtered sources or quality LEDs, use CRI 90+ for faithful color, and position fixtures to avoid glare and veiling reflections on glazed art.
Budget the lux-hours. For a sensitive work at 50 lux, 50,000 lux-hours allows roughly 1,000 hours of display a year. Rotate fragile items or dim when galleries are empty.
See the CRI Reference Chart and the Accent Lighting Guide.