Proceeding Book of 12th European Symposium on Religious art, Restoration & Conservation

Fundamental contribution to filling out the condition reports of the work of arts involved in temporary exhibitions is provided by non-invasive investigation techniques. Investigation, carried out before and after the movement, allow to collect objective data to monitoring the surface or structural alterations and defining the state of conservation, representing an important moment of deepening of knowledge. Generally, these aspects often are left to photographic documentation and observations by conservators and curators. An example of good practice is represented by the case of the Saint Gregory Polyptych (Antonello da Messina, 1473) belonging to the Regional Museum of Messina (Italy). Th…

Gilding and pigments of Renaissance marble of Abatellis Palace: non-invasive investigation by XRF spectrometry

Most of the artworks constituting the collection of Renaissance statuary of Abatellis Palace in Palermo (Sicily) show evidence of colour layers and fragments of gold foil that probably once covered the whole marble surface. The restoration of some of these statues has allowed to carry out archaeometric studies about the painting technique and to highlight the original materials and inclusion present on the precious marbles by two famous Italian sculptors of the Renaissance, Francesco Laurana and Antonello Gagini. The measurements have been performed in situ through the integrated use of two non-invasive techniques: visible fluorescence stimulated by ultraviolet light and X-ray fluorescence.…

Non-destructive physical measurements for the study of museum environments and characterization of archaeological artifact

Blue Biotechnology and Cultural Heritage: case studies

In order to promote innovative methodologies for conservation and restoration of historic-artistic manufacts, the efforts are focalized on the development of “sustainable” applications as alternatives to traditional restoration procedures, which can sometimes be detrimental for the artworks, humans and environment [1]. The role of Biotechnology in this field showed very useful applications for diagnosis of bio-deterioration of cultural assets, by an integrated methodology based on molecular and microbiological skills, and in bio-cleaning / bio-removing of organic/inorganic layers from artwork surfaces by enzymes or viable bacteria cells [2, 3]. In this work, bioactive molecules isolated fro…

New Data on the Silver Objects from the House of Eupolemos (Morgantina, Sicily)

Due to their intrinsic value, ancient silver objects have often arrived at museums throughout the world with provenance other than that of regular excavations, and therefore much data regarding the context and the production process in the workshops of origin, as well as the circulation of such objects, is missing. The discovery of silver objects, in fact, is derived from what one may define as non-productive hoarding – archaeological collections created through the formal burial or the furtive hiding in a moment of danger of objects that were never recovered – circumstances that limit the possibility of knowing the primary use of the object in antiquity, in the manner that we can determine…

BIOREMOVAL 0F SULPHATE LAYER FROM A 15TH CENTURY POLYCHROME MARBLE ARTIFACT

This case study shows the application of viable bacterial cells for removing undesired deposits from the surface of a stone polychrome bas-relief, exhibited at the Interdisciplinary Gallery of Sicily Palazzo Abatellis (Palermo). Diagnostic studies carried out during the restoration were aimed at characterizing the technique of execution and understanding the degradation processes. The results of the XRF and FTIR investigations showed that on large areas of the artifact’s surface, stratified deposits with a significant presence of sulfates were present. For bioremoval of the deposits, viable bacterial cells belonging to the species Desulfovibrio vulgaris, were utilized in gelled solution for…