Detection and characterization of defects in the Brancacci Chapel wall paintings via holographic interferometry and microwave reflectometry

Year: 2024

Authors: Rocco A.; Bertasa M.; Chaban A.; Di Sarno V.; Fontana R.; Grifoni E.; Impallaria A.; Striova J.; Penoni S.; Riminesi C.

Autors Affiliation: Natl Inst Opt, Natl Res Council, CNR INO, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy; Natl Inst Opt, Natl Res Council, CNR INO, Largo E Fermi 6, I-50125 Florence, Italy; Inst Heritage Sci, Natl Res Council, CNR ISPC, Via Madonna Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; Opificio Pietre Dure, Lab Restauro, Viale F Strozzi 1, Florence, Italy; Hampton Court Palace, Conservat Collect Care & Collect Management Dept, Hist Royal Palaces, East Molesey KT8 9AU, Surrey, England.

Abstract: This paper evaluates the improvements in wall paintings diagnostic achievable by the synergistic combination of DHSPI, SIRT and MWR techniques. These innovative portable and non-destructive techniques for in-situ diagnostic were tested in laboratory on mock-ups mimicking the real conditions of wall painting defects (such as detachments, cavities and cracks), and on the frescoes painted by Masolino, Masaccio and Filippino Lippi (between 1422 and 1475) in the Brancacci Chapel in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence, Italy. This research activity was part of the Brancacci Chapel diagnostic and monitoring project, where the assessment of the state of conservation is a mandatory prerequisite for planning the subsequent restoration work. In common practice, restorers make the preliminary evaluation on the state of conservation of the wall paintings by visual and tactile inspection, without the use of any special scientific instrumentation. Cracks, cavities, lack of material, detachments, out-of-plumb and deformation of (non-)structural elements are reported in a condition report to document the state of conservation at a given point in time. In particular, the detachments are recognized by the tap test, but this is a discretionary and highly subjective method. Thus, there is a strong demand for the development of a portable and non-destructive approach that refines this preliminary survey with objective data. Here, we present the results produced by the combination of MWR (useful for the dimensional characterization of hidden defects in the wall) and DHSPI-SIRT to identify the extent of deformations induced by thermal stimulus, providing an objective confirmation of the preliminary investigation performed by restorers, in which the detachments were indicated as stable, not very stable and unstable, i.e. , close to falling. The integrated use of these techniques in situ , supported by a laboratory study on ad-hoc prepared mock-ups, proved to be suitable for a quantitative evaluation of damage risk to guide restoration strategy accordingly.

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

Volume: 68      Pages from: 149  to: 160

More Information: The authors wish to thank the Municipality of Firenze, in particular to all the staff of the ’Servizio Belle Arti e Fabbrica Palazzo Vecchio’ (Resp. Arch. G. Caselli) for their valuable and constant support during the organization and execution of whole diagnostic campaign. All of the artworks shown or represented in our work are property of Fondo Edifici di Culto, Ministero dell’Interno, which we would like to warmly thank for the sup-port. The conservation activities, study and research, were made possible thanks to the finance of Friends of Florence and Pritzker Foundation; DHSPI system was acquired through SHINE project funding (Strengthening the Italian Nodes of E-RIHS, Avviso 424/2018 dell’Azione II.1 PON R&I 2014-2020, DD n. 461 del 03-2019, PIR01_00016, CUP B27E19000030007) . A.R., M.B., A.I., E.G. were supported by PNIR-Programma Nazionale Infrastrutture di Ricerca (Avviso D.D. n 2595 del 24-12-19) , Rafforzamento capitale umano delle Infrastrutture di Ricerca, CIR01_00016, CUP: B82F20000810001. A.C. was supported by IPERION HS – Integrating Platforms for the European Research Infrastructure ON Heritage Science Project (G.A. 871034) and by Next Generation EU – Humanities and Heritage Italian Open Science Cloud (H2IOSC) project (CUP B63C22000730005).
KeyWords: DHSPI; SIRT; MicroWave Reflectometry; Wall painting; Frescoes; Preventive conservation; Structural diagnosis; Heritage science
DOI: 10.1016/j.culher.2024.05.013


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