RESTORATION TECHNIQUES FOR CULTURAL ARTEFACTS

This course of lectures will present the basic concepts of materials and techniques that are involved in the the creation of a cultural artefact.
A selected set of artefact types will be described. Both artefacts located in a open environment (architecture surfaces, frescoes, statues, etc.) as well as in a closed/confined environment (i.e. museums, archives, public and private houses, etc.) will be taken into consideration
Relationships between an artefact and its surrounding environment, such as degradation processes (both natural and anthropogenic), will be described.
Techniques, methods and procedures available and applicable for conservation and renewal of cultural artefacts will be also presented.
This course of lectures will aid the student in developing critical consciousness for the evaluation of art materials degradation, and artefacts conservation.
This course of lectures will help the student in developing communication skills in interacting with other professionals (art conservators, restorers, superintendents, art historians, etc.) of cultural heritage sector

Attending lectures and self study of course contents (slides and lecture notes, reference texts) will allow sudents to reach the following goals:

1. knowledge and understanding
● to know main materials and related production techniques of hystorical, artistic and archologial artefacts
● to know related technical and scientific vocabulary
● to know technical recommendations and legislative references related to restoration and conservation
● to understand the complexity of interactions between artefacts and their sorrounding environment

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● to know how to correctly apply technical and scientific vocabulary in all processes, including communication of acquired knowledge
● to know how to perform a basic analysis of degradation of artefacts and relationships with constituent materials
● to know how to correctly apply aquired competences to the evaluation of possible restoration and conservation intervention actions on artefacts

3. Judgement
● to know to formulate and argue basic to correctly apply technical and scientific vocabulary in all processes, including communication of acquired knowledge
● to know how to perform a basic analysis of artefact degradation and relationships with constituent materials

4. Communication skills
● to know how to communicate own considerations to other sector professionals with suitable terminology
● to know how to interact with other students and with the professor in a critical and educationally responsible manner

5. Ability to learn
● to know how to correctly take notes and share in a collaborative way
● to know how to critically refer to suggested texts and their bibliography

No specific prerequisites are required

Introduction to renewal theories and to the Cultural Heritage Code
The artefact and the environment: phenomena and agents that can affect the duration of artefacts, in open as well as in a closed/confined environment
Degradation processes and conservation/renewal projects: selection of methodologies and products
Architecture artefacts, especially surfaces: composition and production
Artistic and historical artefacts (paintings, boards, paper, etc.): production techniques
Prevention, protection and maintenance of artefacts.

(optional)

- L. Lazzarini, M. Laurenzi Tabassi. Il restauro della Pietra. Ed. CEDAM
- G. Perusini. Il restauro dei dipinti e delle sculture lignee. Storia, teorie e tecniche. II Edition. Ed. Del Bianco, 1991
- Stella Casiello. La cultura del restauro. Teorie e fondatori, Napoli 2005
- C. Fiori, S. Lorusso, R. Pentrella. Restauro, manutenzione, conservazione dei beni culturali: materiali, prodotti, tecniche. Bologna, 2002
- Cesare Brandi. Teoria del restauro, Roma 1963

Until the end of COVID emergency the written text will be based on 4 open-ended questions to be completed within 2 hours ("open book" online mode), and will be focused on specific arguments discussed during the lectures.

Standard (teacher up front) lessons in combination with slides

Italian

required for examination:
- lesson slides and notes


Modification to syllabus will be pointed out during the lectures.

written and oral