Evaluation of corrective measures implemented for the preventive conservation of fresco paintings in Ariadne’s house (Pompeii, Italy)

Chemistry Central Journal

Paloma Merello²  Fernando-Juan García-Diego³  Manuel Zarzo¹ 

[1] Department of Applied Statistics, Operations Research and Quality, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, Valencia, 46022, Spain

[2] Valencian Institute for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, C/ Genaro Lahuerta 25-3°, Valencia, 46010, Spain

[3] Center of Physical Technologies, Associated Unit ICMM-CSIC/UPV, Universitat Politècnica de València, Av de los Naranjos s/n, Valencia, 46022, Spain

关键词: Temperature and relative humidity sensors;    Archaeological preservation;    Pompeii;    Microclimate monitoring;   

Others  :  787906
DOI  :  10.1186/1752-153X-7-87

 received in 2012-11-30, accepted in 2013-05-13,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

A microclimate monitoring study was conducted in 2008 aimed at assessing the conservation risks affecting the valuable wall paintings decorating Ariadne’s House (Pompeii, Italy). It was found that thermohygrometric conditions were very unfavorable for the conservation of frescoes. As a result, it was decided to implement corrective measures, and the transparent polycarbonate sheets covering three rooms (one of them delimited by four walls and the others composed of three walls) were replaced by opaque roofs. In order to examine the effectiveness of this measure, the same monitoring system comprised by 26 thermohygrometric probes was installed again in summer 2010. Data recorded in 2008 and 2010 were compared.

Results

Microclimate conditions were also monitored in a control room with the same roof in both years. The average temperature in this room was lower in 2010, and it was decided to consider a time frame of 18 summer days with the same mean temperature in both years. In the rooms with three walls, the statistical analysis revealed that the diurnal maximum temperature decreased about 3.5°C due to the roof change, and the minimum temperature increased 0.5°C. As a result, the daily thermohygrometric variations resulted less pronounced in 2010, with a reduction of approximately 4°C, which is favorable for the preservation of mural paintings. In the room with four walls, the daily fluctuations also decreased about 4°C. Based on the results, other alternative actions are discussed aimed at improving the conservation conditions of wall paintings.

Conclusions

The roof change has reduced the most unfavorable thermohygrometric conditions affecting the mural paintings, but additional actions should be adopted for a long term preservation of Pompeian frescoes.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Merello et al.; licensee Chemistry Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.

Figure 7.

Figure 8.

Figure 9.

Figure 10.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]De los Rios A, Cámara B, García del Cura MA, Rico VJ, Galván V, Ascaso C: Deteriorating effects of lichen and microbial colonization of carbonate building rocks in the Romanesque churches of Segovia (Spain). Sci Total Environ 2009, 407:1123-1134.
• [2]Cooke RU, Smalley IJ: Salt weathering in deserts. Nature 1968, 220:1226-1227.
• [3]Paradise TR: Limestone weathering and rate variability, great temple of Amman, Jordan. Phys Geogr 1998, 19(2):133-146.
• [4]Winkler EM: Weathering rates as exemplified by Cleopatra’s needle in New York city. J Geol Educ 1965, 13:50-52.
• [5]Winkler EM: Important agents of weathering for building and monumental stone. Eng Geol 1966, 1:381-400.
• [6]Winkler EM, Wilhelm EJ: Salt burst by hydration pressures in architectural stone in urban atmosphere. Geol Soc Am Bull 1970, 81:567-572.
• [7]Nord AG: Efflorescence salts on weathered building stone in Sweden. Geol Fören Stock För 1992, 114(4):423-229.
• [8]Wüst RAJ, Schlüchter C: The origin of soluble salts in rocks of the Thebes mountains, Egypt: The damage potential to ancient Egyptian wall art. J Archaeol Sci 2000, 27(12):1161-1172.
• [9]Arnold A, Zehnder K: Monitoring wall paintings affected by soluble salts. In The Conservation of Wall Paintings. 2nd edition. Edited by Cather S. London: Courtauld Institute of Art and the Getty Conservation Institute; 1996:103-136.
• [10]Lillie M, Smith R, Reed J, Inglis R: Southwest Scottish Crannogs: using in situ studies to assess preservation in wetland archaeological contexts. J Archaeol Sci 2008, 35(7):1886-1900.
• [11]Bernardi A: Microclimate in the British museum, London. Museum Manag Curat 1990, 9:169-182.
• [12]Bernardi A, Camuffo D: Microclimate in the chiericati palace municipal museum, Vicenza. Museum Manag Curat 1995, 14:5-18.
• [13]Camuffo D, Bernardi A, Sturaro G, Valentino A: The microclimate inside the pollaiolo and Botticelli rooms in the Uffizi gallery, Florence. J Cult Herit 2002, 3:155-161.
• [14]Camuffo D, Sturaro G, Valentino A: Thermodynamic exchanges between the external boundary layer and the indoor microclimate at the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, Italy: the problem of conservation of ancient works of art. Bound-Lay Meteorol 1999, 92:243-262.
• [15]Tabunschikov Y, Brodatch M: Indoor air climate requirements for Russian churches and cathedrals. Indoor Air 2004, 14(Suppl 7):168-174.
• [16]García-Diego F-J, Zarzo M: Microclimate monitoring by multivariate statistical control: The renaissance frescoes of the Cathedral of Valencia (Spain). J Cult Herit 2010, 11(3):339-344.
• [17]Zarzo M, Fernández-Navajas A, García-Diego F-J: Long-term monitoring of fresco paintings in the Cathedral of Valencia (Spain) through humidity and temperature sensors in various locations for preventive conservation. Sensors 2011, 11(9):8685-8710.
• [18]Nava S, Becherini F, Bernardi A, Bonazza A, Chiari M, García-Orellana I, Lucarelli F, Ludwig N, Migliori A, Sabbioni C, Udisti R, Valli G, Vecchi R: An integrated approach to assess air pollution threats to cultural heritage in a semi-confined environment: the case study of Michelozzo’s courtyard in Florence (Italy). Sci Total Environ 2010, 408(6):1403-1413.
• [19]Maekawa S, Lambert F, Meyer J: Environmental monitoring at Tiwanaku. Mater Res Soc Symp Proc 1995, 352:885-892.
• [20]Pesando F: La Casa de Ariadna de Pompeya: redescubrimiento de una domus. In Pompeya bajo Pompeya, Las excavaciones en la Casa de Ariadna. Edited by Ribera A, Olcina M, Ballester C. Valencia: Fundación MARQ; 2007:21-24.
• [21]Video describing Ariadne’s House in Pompei. http://vimeo.com/3123842 webcite
• [22]Pictures of Ariadne’s House (Regio VII, Insula 4). [http://www.pompeiiinpictures.com webcite]
• [23]Pérez MC, García Diego F-J, Merello P, D’Antoni P, Fernández Navajas A, Ribera-Lacomba A, Ferrazza L, Pérez Miralles J, Baró J-L, Merce P, D’Antoni H, Curiel Esparza J: Ariadne’s house (Pompeii, Italy) wall paintings: A multidisciplinary study of its present state focused on a future restoration and preventive conservation. Mater Constrin press
• [24]Merello P, García-Diego F-J, Zarzo M: Microclimate monitoring of Ariadne’s house (Pompeii, Italy) for preventive conservation of fresco paintings. Chem Central J 2012, 6:145. BioMed Central Full Text
• [25]Coperture: lastre in fibrocemento ecologico (Edilit SpA). http://www.edilit.com webcite
• [26]Laurenti MC (Ed): Le Coperture delle Aree Archeologiche. Roma: Museo Aperto. Gangemi editore; 2006.
• [27]DM 10/2001: Atto di Indirizzo sui Criteri Tecnico-scientifici e Sugli Standard di Funzionamento e Sviluppo dei Musei. Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali. Rome (Italy): Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana (Official Bulletin of Italian Republic); 2001. DL 112/1998 art. 150 comma 6
• [28]Hygrochron Temperature/Humidity Logger iButton with 8KB Data-Log Memory. Maxim Integrated Products. [http://datasheets.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/DS1923.pdf webcite]
• [29]Temperature Logger iButton with 8KB Data-Log Memory. Maxim Integrated Products. [http://datasheets.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/DS1922L-DS1922T.pdf webcite]
• [30]ASTM E: 104–02: Standard Practice for Maintaining Constant Relative Humidity by Means of Aqueous Solutions. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM Intl; 2012.
• [31]Statgraphics Software. [http://www.statgraphics.net webcite]