Conservation Of Wall Paintings (B’)

Course Theory

The theoretical part of the course covers the following:

– Principles for the preservation and conservation/restoration of wall paintings. Code of Ethics, and related legislation; Wall paintings as an integral part of the building or structure

– Preliminary investigation, condition assessment and documentation of wall paintings

– Methods for diagnosis and decision making related to the conservation of wall paintings

– Health and safety at work: Rules and regulations related to the materials and equipment used in conservation of wall paintings

– Cleaning of wall paintings: methods, materials, decision making, limitation

– Consolidation of wall paintings: Structural and surface consolidation methods, materials, decision making

– Restoration and aesthetic reintegration of wall paintings: methods, materials, limitations

– Detachment and transfer of wall paintings: history, techniques, legislation

– Preventive conservation and monitoring of wall paintings.

Course Practicals

The course practicals focus on conservation methods and strategies applied in situ or on detached wall paintings.

The students have to prepare a conservation plan and implement it considering the following:

– Pretreatment examination: understanding and documentation of the state of preservation, Conservation Project Management

– Cleaning of wall paintings: testing, decision for methods and materials, assessment of results and documentation

– Consolidation of mortar and paint layer: decision for the methods and materials, assessment of results and documentation

– Aesthetic reintegration, techniques and materials

– Digital restoration of wall paintings

– Detachment and transfer of wall paintings

– Preventive conservation measures

– Emergency interventions of wall paintings.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students should be able to:

– Understand, assess and document the state of preservation of a wall painting

– Study and investigate the materials, techniques and also the causes and mechanisms of deterioration of wall paintings.

– Prepare and propose a conservation program.

– Set the appropriate criteria for conservation methods and materials and to develop the methodology for their implementation.

– Apply conservation and restoration interventions on wall paintings.

– Appraise and judge the results of implementing a conservation method.

– Work as a team and to cooperate with other disciplines.

The Scope of the Course and Objectives

The Scope of the Course

The course trains students by developing specific skills in assessment, management, formulation of policy, documentation and conservation of wall paintings.

Course objectives

The course objective for students to specialize in issues related to conservation of wall paintings.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT
Language of evaluation: Greek (English for Erasmus students).

The student’s final grade results from 50% of the grade of the theoretical part and 50% of the grade of laboratory practice.
Students’ evaluation (100%):
THEORY (50%): Written examination
LAB PRACTICES (50%):
-Oral presentation (10%),
-Technical report of fieldwork activities (20%)
-Oral examination – presentation, critical evaluation and assessment of fieldwork (20%).
Detailed information and assessment criteria are given orally in the face-to-face course and in written form in the e-class of the course.

SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
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-Baglioni P., Giorgi R., 2013. Inorganic Nanomaterials for the Consolidation of Wall Paintings and Stones. In Nanoscience for the Conservation of Works of Art Baglioni (ed.) Royal Society of Chemistry p. 345 – 371.
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-Chatzidakis, M., 2016. Street art conservation in Athens: Critical conservation in a time of crisis. Studies in Conservation Volume 61, 2016, 17-23.
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Related scientific journals:
1. Studies in Conservation
2. Reviews in Conservation
3. Journal of Architectural Conservation
4. Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) Newsletter
5. Journal of Cultural Heritage