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Why was the project necessary? |
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The aims
In the light of surveys and investigations
carried out by ICR, the conservation and restoration activities
on the Chapel's wall decorations had the following aims:
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- revision of the state
of adhesion of the paint film to the preparatory layers, and
of the condition of cohesion of the pigments, especially in
the areas where azurite had been used;
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- reconstruction of the
adhesion between the preparatory layers and the supporting wall
(except for the left wall, which had been treated similarly
in 1997);
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- cleaning the painted
surfaces to remove atmospheric deposits and - wherever possible
- the fixatives used in previous restoration work;
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- extraction of soluble
salts from the painted film followed by careful cleaning (especially
for the scenes of the Inferno, the Discussion with the Elders,
the Ascent to Calvary, Mary's Return Home, as well as the area
where the vaulting meets the left wall above the main arch)
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- removal of stucco work
carried out during previous attempts at restoration (not only
to integrate missing areas but also to conceal the nail-heads
used to consolidate the plaster) and its replacement with other
colours and materials, which had been thoroughly tested beforehand.
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- re-integration of the
missing areas, or those areas where the paint film was in a
bad state. |
Alongside actions of a more general nature,
urgent action was taken in areas of particularly "high risk",
starting in April 2001. For further information on the reasons for
carrying out the various operations, go to: Descriptive report on
the finalised project - ICR , July 2000
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