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

The course provides 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.

At the end of the course, students will have developed knowledge of the heritage materials; they will have applied and elaborated concepts previously acquired in the chemical applied to the study of the cultural heritage; they will be able to identify the best investigation technique according to the different case studies; they will have acquired the relation between chemistry, diagnostic and restoration for the investigation, valorisation and conservation of the cultural heritage.

TEACHING METHODS

32 hours of 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.

• Introduction to the different supports and materials: mural, paper, canvas, wood, metals, stone, glass
• The main inorganic pigments (e.g. malachite, lapis lazuli, cinnabar, white lead, etc). Historical introduction, production/supply method, uses, degradation
• The main organic dye (e.g. indigo, cochineal, purple, etc). Historical introduction, production/supply method, uses, degradation
• The binders: siccative oils and glues.
• The modern and contemporary art materials (introduction)

Investigation techniques

• Sampling and separation techniques.
• The use of non – destructive techniques in the heritage science
• The use of destructive techniques in the heritage science

Restoration and conservation

• Introduction to the restoration
• The materials for conservation and restoration (introduction)

The course will essentially refer to the pictorial art, on the various possible supports. Each topic will be explained through examples referred to real case studies.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slides of the lessons uploaded on AulaWeb

Reference texts:

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

Autori Vari, Chimica per l'Arte, Zanichelli 2007.

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

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

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

N. Bevilacqua, L. Borgioli, I. Androver Garcia, I pigmenti nell’arte dalla preistoria alla rivoluzione industriale, Il Prato 2010.

A. Casoli, M.E. Darecchio, L. Sarritzu, I coloranti nell'arte, Il Prato 2009.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

From February 24, 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists in an oral examination during at least 30 minutes aiming at verifying the comprehension of the topics treated during the course.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment consists of an interview ("oral" exam) during which the student will be asked to solve a real case study inherent to the program carried out by the teacher. 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

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.