ELLENCONSERVATION
CONSERVATION OF PAPER
Even
if this is not my field of study, at the second year of the Course of restoration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna I
have attended lessons for three months in the laboratory of Conservation of paper, to learn the basics
of how to approach this material.
AN OLD PAPERBACK
   Front, rear and back of the book before the restoration. |
This was one of many 19th Century books stored in the Library of San Giorgio in Poggiale in Bologna, and they were all restored during the academic year. The work on this book was made in the laboratory of "Restoration of book" at the Academy of FIne Arts of Bologna, under the supervision of Professor Carlotta Zanasi. |
   Front, rear and back of the book after the restoration. |
THE SMALL REBUS
   Front and rear of the rebus before the restoration, the front after the restoration. |
| The small 19th Century rebuses, owned by a foundation an stored at the Library of San Giorgio in Poggiale, were restored during the course of "Restoration of drawings and prints" at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, under the supervision of Professor Camilla Roversi Monaco. They were etched on a sheet of hand made paper, which appeared yellowed and disturbed by many spots of foxing we couldn't remove, but just cover a bit. |
TWO 19TH CENTURY COMICS
  Front of the comic before and after the restoration. |
  Rear of the comic before and after the restoration. |
| These comics, made by the famous artist Honorč Daumier, are preserved in the Library of San Giorgio in Poggiale. They were restored during the course of "Restoration of drawings and prints" at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, under the supervision of Professor Camilla Roversi Monaco. |
    Front and rear of the comic before and after the restoration. |
A BOOK MADE OF PARCHMENT
   The book before the restoration. |
| The book, owned by a private, showed an evident biodeterioration caused by mold on the parchment. The inner part was quite damaged by water as well, but we dicided to work just on the first issues, trying to eliminate the stain. We couldn't do anything on the mold, because its treatment is dangerous for the parchment. To avoid to unstich the cover from the interior, operation which lows the value of the book, we just cleaned the parchment surface. |
   The book after the restoration. |
A PRINT OF NAPOLEON
  The print before and after the restoration. |
During the summer of 2012, I went to practice for two months at the POST SCRIPTUM laboratory, specialized in Conservation of paper and leather manufacts. The 19th Century etching, copied from the famous David painting,
was quite damaged. There were many losses of the drawing caused by the
attack of insects, which ate the surface of the print. There were
lacunae around the edge. The print was washed and stretched on a panel
after being lined with japanese paper. |
    Details of the horse, before and after the retouching. |
  Detail of the Napoleon's face before and after the retouching. |
THE "NOZZE DI CANA"
  The print before and after the restoration. |
| These print, copied by the famous painting of Paolo Veronese, showed many tears and losses on the edges, and many stains were visible in the lower part. We washed it, afterward we lined it with japanese paper, then we stretched it on a panel. Finally, we filled the losses. ther restoration was made at the POST SCRIPTUM laboratory under the supervision of the restorer. |
  Detail of the upper edge before and after the restoration. |
  Detail of the right edge before and after the restoration. |
  Detail of the tear on the lower part of the print before and after the restoration. |
COVERS OF BOOKS
    The marbled surface of a book cover and the back of another one made of leather before and after the restoration. |
| The book's covers often are attacked by insects, which eat the surface. The losses have to be filled and then retouched. These works were done at the POST SCRIPTUM laboratory. |
    The marbled cover before and after the restoration. |
  Detail of the back of a book before and after the restoration. |
THE GRANDFATHER BOOK
    The book before and after the restoration. |
| This Italian Grammar book, owned and used by the granfather of my friend Laura, couldn't be opened because it lost the back, and somebody addeed layers of glue to fix the issues together. I thought of reuse the light blue paper which was wrapping the cardboard cover because it was full of memories written by who used the book. I rebuilt the back, and I washed all the pages, then I sawed the issues. It was a long work I did by myself at home, but it was good to practice all the techniques learnt before. |
    The book after the restoration. |
LEARNING THE TECHNIQUE: ENGRAVING
   The engraved zinc plates . |
| One of the most beautiful laboratory attended during the first year of study at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna was the Engraving Laboratory, where we learnt the traditional technique. Each student chose a topic to engrave; mine was the tarots figures, which I drew in a personal way. Learning how an artwork is created is important to understand if the damage could be related to a not appropriate use of the technique. |
   The prints of the engravings. |
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