OVERVIEW

Chemistry for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (code 61903) is worth 4 credits and takes place in the second semester (1st or 2nd year) of the Degree Course in Chemical Sciences. The lessons are held in Italian with the possibility, if requested by the students, of discussion in English.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

There is a growing and widespread recognition of the importance of chemical and chemical-physical investigations in the study of works of art as in the various restoration operations and, in general, in their conservation, enhancement and use. Over the past thirty years, the number of publications by sector operators, indicated by the term conservation scientists, has steadily increased, as the appearance of scientific journals specifically dedicated to these issues. The main objective of the course is to provide students of chemical disciplines with the indispensable scientific methodologies for the study of historical, artistic and archaeological heritage and at the same time to sensitize them to the needs of conservation and respect for the artworks dealt with in the program.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

There is a growing and widespread recognition of the importance of chemical and chemical-physical investigations in the study of works of art as in the various restoration operations and, in general, in their conservation, enhancement and use. Over the past thirty years, the number of publications by sector operators, indicated by the term conservation scientists, has steadily increased, as the appearance of scientific journals specifically dedicated to these issues. The main objective of the course is to provide students of chemical disciplines with the indispensable scientific methodologies for the study of historical, artistic and archaeological heritage and at the same time to sensitize them to the needs of conservation and respect for the artworks dealt with in the program.

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional lectures with use of PowerPoint presentation (made available to students on AulaWeb) and a blackboard or other writing support.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The materials of art.

Sampling and separation techniques.

Analytical instrumentation.

Materials for conservation and restoration.

The course will essentially refer to the pictorial art, on the various possible supports.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slides of the lessons uploaded on AulaWeb

Reference texts:

Various AA, Conservation Science for the Cultural Heritage – Applications for Instrumental Analysis, Editor: E.A.Varella, Springer  2013.

Matteini, Moles, La Chimica nel Restauro, Nardini Editore.

V. Horie, Materials for Conservation, Routledge Ed, 2° Edition, 2010.

A. Zecchina, Alchimie nell’Arte, Zanichelli, 2012.

Mills-White, The Organic Chemistry of Museum Objects, 2° Ed., Routledge, 1994.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIOVANNI PETRILLO (President)

CINZIA TAVANI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

From 1 March 2021 (according to the timetable shown on the websites http://www.chimica.unige.it/didattica/Home_SC and/or https://corsi.unige.it/9018).

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will consist of an oral interview before a commission of at least two theachers, with the essential use of the blackboard or other writing support on which to develop the exam topics, especially as regards the arguments most directly based on chemistry.

The student can freely choose to bring, as part of the exam, a PowerPoint presentation on an in-depth study of a program (or strictly related) topic, to be agreed with the teacher.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment consists of an interview ("oral" exam) on different arguments, inherent to the program carried out by the teacher, and continued for a time deemed appropriate by the Commission, based on its consolidated experience, for an objective assessment of the candidate. The Exam Commission is made up of two tenured professors, including the teacher in charge. The achievement of the educational objectives of the course is verified through a) the candidate's acquisition of the notions (at least the minimum ones) fundamental for a correct knowledge of the topics included in the program, b) the candidate's ability to move rationally in the field, including the use of appropriate links between different topics, and c) the candidate's ability to properly use previously acquired notions and preliminary knowledge in the understanding and discussion of various topics of the matter.

Exam schedule