CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE II

This course forms part of the core modules of the degree programme in Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage and Activities, and is aimed at students enrolled on the art history and archaeology pathways whose surnames begin with the letters M to Z. This module constitutes the second module of the course in Conservation and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage and is linked to the first 6-credit module (FT0451-1) delivered in the first term.
The course aims to provide a sound understanding of the processes involved in the main artistic techniques, based on information derived from sources and data obtained from technical and scientific investigations. Particular attention is given to techniques for painting on walls, panels and canvas: from the support and preparation methods to drawing techniques, the use of binders and pigments, and finally the finishing and varnishing processes. The course covers the history of restoration, with particular reference to Cesare Brandi’s Theory and the Charter of Restoration. The teaching covers quality standards for the management and care of museum collections, including case studies on the opportunities offered by diagnostics applied to cultural heritage.

- Knowledge and understanding of the main art techniques, their materials and processes.

- Understanding of the most common conservation problems raised by the art media discussed.

- Ability to properly use the vocabulary of art techniques and conservation.

- Ability to describe and compare the making process of artifacts and highlight its significance with respect to several disciplines.

The course is intended for second-year students and assumes the basic knowledge acquired in the ancient and modern art history teachings recommended for the first year.

The course is held in Italian and in-person. The program will be structured around the following topics:
- knowledge of the procedures of the main artistic techniques, on the basis of the cognitive data obtainable from the sources and from the data coming from the technical-scientific investigations;
- wall, panel and canvas painting techniques: from the support, to the preparation methods, to the drawing techniques, up to the use of binders and colors, to conclude the finishing and varnishing elements;
- main printing techniques and related function in history
Case studies on the opportunities and limits of diagnostics applied to cultural heritage will be discussed.
Outlines of the history of restoration and main techniques of cleaning and pictorial integration, investigated on a historiographical basis.

Texts (A) Adopted and (R) Recommended:
(A) Tecniche dell'arte, testi di Sandro Baroni et al., a cura di Sandro Baroni e Micaela Mander, prefazione di Giorgio Bonsanti, Milano, Mursia, 2021, 2 voll; volume 1, pp. 9-46, 49-176, 189-219, 235-262, 302-338, 386-409; volume 2: 67-106, 445-493;
(A), Cesare Brandi, Teoria del restauro, 1963, edizione Torino, Einaudi, 2000, pp. 3-8, 53-61, 71-76, 89-97.
Adopted books are to be considered compulsory.
As an alternative to the adopted texts, we recommend:
(R) Corrado Maltese, a cura di, Le tecniche artistiche, Milano, Mursia,1973, pp. 11-62, 137-165, 173-189, 195-198;
(C) Alessandro Conti, Manuale di restauro, a cura di Marina Romiti Conti, Torino, Einaudi, 2001 (Einaudi 1996), pp. 24-41, 63-79 e 172-190.

The examination consists of a written test in closed book mode. The test will consist of three open-ended questions (weighted 10/30) and one additional question to refine the assessment .
The examination will focus on knowledge of the topics in the textbook, discussed in class and found in the University Moodle platform. Each question will be associated with a visible score. The assessment will take into account:
- Relevance and completeness to the questions;
- Correctness and propriety in the use of discipline-specific language and vocabulary;
- Accuracy;
- Critical reworking and cross-cutting connections.

Please note: The course in Conservation and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage is divided into two modules, each worth 6 ECTS credits. Students are therefore required to pass the two assessments for both modules in order to have their final exam mark recorded; this mark is a single figure derived from the results of the two partial assessments, enabling students to earn a total of 12 ECTS credits, which cannot be split.
It will be possible to sit the module I and II partial exams in different exam sessions. The mark for each partial exam will remain valid only within the four exam sessions comprising the academic year (12 months). Please note that anyone who fails to pass one of the two exams within the current academic year will have to retake both exams: under no circumstances will marks be considered valid beyond this deadline.
For justified and documented reasons not covered by this notice, students are asked to contact the lecturers.

written

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

The assignment of grades will be formulated on the basis of the following indicators:
A. marks in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the syllabus;
- limited ability to illustrate and/or interpret information, making independent judgements;
- sufficient communication skills, especially in relation to the use of the specialised language of the discipline.
B. marks in band 23-26 will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and ability to understand and critically elaborate;
- discrete ability to illustrate and/or interpret information, formulating autonomous judgements;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of the specialised language of the discipline.
C. Scores in the 27-30 bracket will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or excellent knowledge and ability to understand and critically elaborate;
- good or excellent ability to illustrate and/or interpret information, making autonomous judgements;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially in relation to the use of the language of the discipline;
D. Honours will be awarded in the presence of excellent critical and diachronic elaboration.

Lecturs and dialogues, with the help of additional materials, power point files and media literacy techniques. Acces to the Moodle space of the course is mandatory.

Ca' Foscari applies the Italian laws for the support of students with disabilities or specific learning disorders. If you have a motor, visual, hearing disability, another impairment (Law 17/1999) or a specific learning disorder (Law 170/2010) and require support (classroom assistance, technological aids for taking exams or individualized exams, materials in accessible format, note retrieval, specialized tutoring to support study, interpreters, or other), please contact the Disability and DSA office (disabilita@unive.it) BEFORE THE COURSE STARTS.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development