Santa Maria Incoronata Library

Parish of Santa Maria Incoronata Corso Garibaldi, 116 – 20121 Milano

Parish of Santa Maria Incoronata, Tel. 02.654855

Restoration of paintings

The restoration of the Library of S. Maria Incornata followed a precise workflow: the first intervention focused on the unveiling of the lunettes of the central aisle, representing the teachers of the Church, a work attributed by Prof. Cats Perer to Zenale and Butinone.
The conservation status of these murals appeared definitely precarious . Below the bland surface consisting of several coats of lime plaster, paints appeared very compromised. They were probably whitewashed when they showed already an advanced state of decay .
Causes are related to the painting technique used by the artist, to the restructuring resulting from the change in the use of the place, to the massive and constant infiltration of rainwater from roofs, and moisture condensation. The method of execution is a mixed technique: the painters painted on a layer of hydrated lime with mineral colors , diluted in water and with a tool of organic origin, and the paintings were certainly painted when hydrated lime was already processed, along with the blue background , some green and red lead of the books. On the other hand, the faces of delicate and refined hatches on a tip brush, appear slightly incorporated in the crystal lattice of calcium carbonate . This technique was also used for the vault of the aisle and the base with fake flower drawers .

By Anna Lucchini

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