The image created by an artist is only part of the massage embodied in a painting. A painting is a three dimensional object with distinct and unique topographical features. Evidence of the act of painting is always preserved in the final image; typically this may be in the brushmarks, the impasto, drawn or scraped lines in the surface, or the texture of the support. In the past the need to preserve the image has sometimes led restorers and liners to carry out treatments that have sacrificed some of the surface qualities of the painting, occasionally disastrously. Recently conservators have given the problem a great deal of attention and sought ways os alleviating it. This paper considers the original and aged condition of some painting surfaces and attempts to define what it is we wish to preserve. It then describes some of the technical aspects of cleaning and lining which can cause distortion of the surface texture and considers alternatives for preserving the original surface and enhancing its appearance through lighting and display.