CONSERVATION SCIENCE FOR THE RESTORATION OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART

The module is a fundamental training activity for the preparation of the conservation scientist. It provides tools for the artwork analysis (with a focus on modern and contemporary ones) from a chemical and scientific point of view as an essential guide for the comprehension of the artefact and in support of conservative treatment, in particular in the use of innovative methodologies.

- Knowledge and understanding: understand the main alteration mechanisms of the materials constituting the artworks from the chemical point of view, in particular modern and contemporary; understand the methods of analysis (cross sections, spot tests, UV fluorescence); knowledge of innovative methodologies of intervention and materials for restoration (cleaning, consolidation, low molecular weight varnishes, retouching)
- Ability to apply knowledge: know how to apply the concepts learned on degradation processes of modern and contemporary artworks and materials in the drafting a condition report and in the subsequent drafting of the intervention project; knowing how to use the scientific data deriving from the surveys carried out for the drafting of the intervention project; knowing how to correctly choose restoration materials and methods based on the scientific analysis
- Ability to judge: develop a critical and ethical approach to conservation treatment
- Communication skills: knowing how to expose the data collected in a complete condition report and in an intervention report through specific glossary
- Learning skills: being able to take notes during lessons, deepening the concepts through individual study and with suggested articles or autonomously, being able to consult the texts and the assigned references

The student must demonstrate a preparation in basic chemistry concepts (general and inorganic) and in organic chemistry; general concepts of chemistry applied to conservation and materials technology are highly recommended

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR: Dr. Teresa Perusini (40 hours)

The aim of my lessons – as art-historian and conservator - will then mainly be the description of modern and contemporary art-technique and its evolution in last Centuries.
The programme will include both the production of different art materials, and the scenary of art system including its drammatic change in the 19th-20th century.
In the course will be also be given short informations on artists’ training (from crafts to Academia) and the mutation of art’s commission (from church and prince commission to art galleries) and conservation system (for example 19th and 20th Centuries Cleaning Controversies) .
In detail in 40 hours will be considered:
Traditional art material and art system
-will be given to the students an essential review of traditional painting materials (both of pigments and
painting-media like egg- glue- or starch- tempera and different oil – for easel-paintings and wall-paintings ) and
contemporary ones ( Nitrocellulose- Alkyd- and Acryl- paints)
. will be given to the students an essential review of traditional and modern art treatises
. will be given to the students an essential review of historic artists’ training from ”bottega” to academia
Frontal Lesson will include PPT showing some case-study were traditional techniques , their analysis through
different methods (f.e. IR, UV cross-section, microscope observation, different chemical tests) and their
conservation will be explaned
Beside frontal lesson in the laboratory the students shall do conservation report and conservation
treatments on some original works of art. They shall write a technical and conservation report and do some
easy conservation interventions on these art objects ( f.e. consolidation and cleaning tests with different
cleaning methods (dry cleaning, water based methods, organic solvents )
Adjunct prof: Ilaria Saccani (module: 50 hours)
Review of main artworks materials and their degradation
· Natural materials: proteins (egg, animal glue, casein), polysaccharides, oils (polymerization
mechanism, possible leaching effects from solvents interaction-Feller), terpenes.
· Synthetic materials: main polymer classes (PVAc, PVAl, Acrylics esthers, EVA,
polyurethanes, polyammides) polymerization mechanisms, Tg and MFT, degradation
processes
Modern and contemporary art: materials and their degradation; conservation issues
· Brief history of modern paints formulations
· Modern and contemporary pigments
· Nitrocellulose paints: chemical characteristics and degradation processes.
· Alkyd paints: chemical structure; artists’ paints vs house paints
· PVAc paints and VEOVa
· Acrylics: solution (Magna®- Bocour) and dispersion formulations (influence of additives).
Degradation processes and conservation issues
· Modern oils and WMO (water mixable oils)
Diagnostics and analysis
· Study of paintings materials UV fluorescence
· Cross sections and microscope observation
· Micro chemical tests for the determination of artworks' materials

CONSERVATION TREATMENTS
1) CLEANING
- Dry methods: chemical characteristics of main materials Practical tests on modern paint samples
- Water based methods: buffer solution, surfactants, chelators, emulsions (W/O and O/W,
gel emulsions and surfactantless)
- Solvents: solubility parameters, solubility test, solvent surfactant gels. Interaction solvents and paint layer
- Silicon solvents (D5): main characteristics, application
methods. Silicon-based co-polymers emulsifiers
Practical approach for the cleaning of modern and contemporary artworks
2) CONSOLIDATION
Review of main consolidating agents) and methods
3) LMW VARNISHES
Ketone resins, MS2A reduced resin, urea aldehyde resin(Laropal® A 81), Regalrez 1094

frequency of lessons and laboratories
Discussions and comparisons during teaching hours
individual study of handouts and notes
reading and study of in-depth articles

Frontal lessons with the help of ppt and handouts
- in-depth analysis on specific articles
- practical tests (preparation of cleaning materials, preparation of cross sections, tests on section and fragment, materials investigation through UV fluorescence)
- conservation treatment on selected artworks

English

written and oral