Since the second half of the 20th century, public museums have witnessed a steady increase in expectations for implementing transparent conservation and preservation strategies for their art collections, balanced with requirements for display and accessibility. Despite their permanent museum status, historical painting collections are not necessarily static as they continue to evolve over time and in tandem with current views and changes in perception. This phenomenon is refl ected in the National Museum of Art’s collection of 57 Munch paintings, which has a collective display tradition in terms of the Munch Room. The following study addresses the challenges in designing a viable conservation decisionmaking model for an anachronistically displayed collection of paintings. In terms of conservation, the focus is on the nonoriginal restoration varnish layers. Research methods include the creation of an updated survey of the 57 paintings and builds on two previous non-invasive scientifi c studies, which revealed that three-quarters of the Munch collection had been varnished by the museum. A proposed decision-making design, based on contemporary art models, incorporates an extra visual overview of each painting’s historical trajectory. The theoretical framework of ‘object itineraries’ was adopted to both interpret and map the shifts in the core display of paintings between 1909 and 2019. This approach helped to highlight the recurring historical patterns related to the application of non-original restoration varnishes and physical damages. Likewise, changes in the painting’s iconic status and shifts in popularity in terms of display context and demand (exhibitions and loans) are more easily discernible. Finally, the study accommodates the changing role of the institution’s decision-makers and stakeholders over the past 110 years and presents a useful format for the management of change in historic collections.