X-rays and old masters. The art of the scientific connoisseur

The wealth of American millionaires, the greed of Nazi art collectors and a positivist faith in the authority of laboratory science all contributed to the emergence of conservation science as a new discipline. Yet, not before the aftermath years of the Second World War was scientific expertise accepted as valid knowledge by both art critics and the general public. Becoming an expert depended not only on knowledge and skills, but also on the successful negotiation of the vested interests of a wide range of stakeholders. The creation of museum laboratories proved to be decisive in making space for science in the world of art.