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Teacher
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ALBERTI Livia
(syllabus)
First module, 150 hours:
The first module will be carried out partly in the laboratory of the University and partly on the archaeological site of Villa dei Quintili of the Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica in Rome.
At the laboratory a number of theoretical lessons will be held on the following topics:
- Execution technique, constituent materials, types of ancient mosaic and decorative motifs.
- State of conservation and causes of degradation.
- Ancient and modern maintenance and restoration interventions and discussion on whether or not to remove them.
- Methods of conservation intervention on in situ mosaics.
- Planning of a mosaic restoration intervention.
In the laboratory, a small mosaic will be created individually, following as far as possible the ancient execution technique.
The second part of the module will be carried out for the conservation of a black and white tessera mosaic preserved in situ at the Villa dei Quintili.
The exercise will consist in the complete documentation of the state of conservation and of the previous restoration interventions.
Moreover, cleaning tests will be carried out on the tessellatum surface.
At the site warehouse/laboratory it will be possible to carry out the experience of cataloging some mosaic fragments coming from the excavations of the Villa. The fragments will be studied and inventoried on a form to be prepared for the purpose to collect the significant data for the characterization of the different fragments.
Finally, during the module, a visit to the Museum of Palazzo Massimo in Rome will be planned, where the exposed mosaics will be observed, especially with regard to the different types of mosaics, the method of construction of the tessellation and the arrangement of the tesserae, as well as the techniques of mosaic lifting and repositioning on a new support.
Second module, 150 hours
The second module carries on with the intervention on the in situ mosaic at Villa dei Quintili with the following conservation operations:
- Removal of the biological patina and cleaning of the surface.
- Fixing of the loose tesserae.
- Fixing of the detachments between the preparatory mortar layers.
- Infilling of lacunae, of interstices between tesserae and of tessellatum edges.
- Graphic and photographic documentation of carried out interventions.
The particular condition of the mosaic assigned for the exercise, affected by a strong depression produced by a subsidence of the support structure, could be the opportunity to study possible solutions fornstructural stabilization and rainwater drainage.
Third module 150 hours
Module 3 will be carried out at the archaeological site of Carsulae, addressing all operations needed for in situ mosaic stabilization, operating on one or more mosaics that will be assigned to the course:
- Surface cleaning and vegetation removal.
- Loose tesserae re-bedding in their original position, with lime mortar.
- Grouting of detachments between tessellatum and preparatory mortar layers, with infiltration of hydraulic liquid mortars.
- Mortar edging for tessellatum protection and containment.
- Lacunae and interstices between tesserae in-filling with lime-based mortars.
The module will also include lectures on mosaics deterioration in archaeological sites and on protection and prevention methods used on the site, such as reburial and shelter.
(reference books)
No text on mosaic restoration is adopted as course text. For various topics dealing with different aspects of mosaic conservation, both for ancient and modern mosaics and floor and wall mosaics, it is referred to the following bibliography.
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