|
|
Worksite Coordination: Oliviu Boldura, conservator-restorer, CERECS ART S.R.L.
Intervention period: 1999 - 2008 (summer campaigns)
The a fresco mural paintings have met historical events for more than five centuries and, as time went by, environmental factors or human actions have left their fingerprint on this UNESCO World Heritage monument.
The progressive degradation of the mural paintings required intervention, so that in 1980 the conservation process began with the emergency intervention on the exterior frescoes under the direction of Tatiana Pogonat and Oliviu Boldura, wall painting conservators. At this point, some previous interventions were already made, such as the repair with mortar of the support lacunas, but the year 1980 marks the beginning of the first documented intervention of conservation-restoration on the mural painting from Voronet. As of this moment, the treatment included the colour layer reattachment, the removal of biological deterioration agents from the north facade, the consolidation of the support layer, the removal of various inadequate mortars in terms of material aesthetics and the aesthetic integration. The intervention on the exterior painting ended in 1987 and then resumed for the dome of the church in a single campaign in the summer of 2003. The conservation process of this monument imposed along the years a complex methodological approach continually sustained by responsible scientific research. The project was based on an interdisciplinary collaboration between conservators, scientists, art historians and other specialists in cultural heritage. For the inside mural painting, the conservation works began in 1999 with similar operations but the methodology was adapted to meet the demands of a painting covered by a consistent layer of deposits. Of course, this brief listing of major operations can not include the complexity of the problems encountered. The works took place in several phases5, having begun in the central nave and continuing in altar, narthex and exonarthex.
This year (2008) the intervention of conservation-restoration on the inside mural painting6 is to be finalised. This matches the celebration ceremony of 520 years of existence of the church, and with this opportunity, the churchdom is organising between 12 and 13 September a communication session titled "Testimonies of living history"7 followed by the re-consecration of the church on Sunday, 14th September.
An important aspect that should be taken into consideration is that the exterior painting, restored more than 20 years ago, already presents primary signs of degradation, such as the pulverulence and detachement of the colour layer, which urge the re-intervention on some areas. A monument of Voronet value, particularly important for national identity and cultural heritage, is considered to require permanent assistance, monitoring and preventive conservation so that these incipient forms of degradations will not evolve.
Image 1. The state of the naos painting, west wall, before conservation; Image 2. Naos painting, north wall, after conservation; Image 3. The actual state of the exterior painting on the north facade from Voronet; Images 4 and 5. Comparative images showing the original (before conservation) and actual (after conservation) aspect of the painting from the church narthex, east wall.
Notes:
1. The blue used for the painting of Voronet was identified by the chemist engineer Ioan Istudor as being azurite (Basic copper-carbonate) that transformed into malachite due to humidity action, in Ioan Istudor, 'Un fenomen de denaturare a culorilor in pictura murala de la Voronet', Revista muzeelor si monumentelor. Monumente istorice si de arta, no. 1, Bucharest, 1965, pp. 65-66. 2. Gheorghe Bals, 'Bisericile lui Stefan cel Mare', Buletinul Comisiei Monumentelor Istorice, 1925. 3. The information is given by the inscription placed above the original entrance of the Church, now the exonarthex. 4. Oliviu Boldura, 'Elemente complementare privind pictura de la biserica manastirii Voronet', R.M.I. year LXXVI, no. 1- 2/2007 5. Due to low temperatures on extended periods - cca. eight months per year - the conservation intervention can only be carried out during the summer. 6. The general conservation of the assembly required important interventions on the architecture, such as the restoration of the roof and of the perimetral pavement drains. 7. The communication session is only a part of organised events, others being the pilgrimage to other monuments and the opening of a permanent exhibition museum.
▲TOP
To save this article or see images in maximum quality please
Permanent link to this resource: http://www.e-conservationline.com/content/view/626 |
||||
