A multidisciplinary study of biodeteriorated Celje Ceiling, a tempera painting on canvas

Kavkler, Katja; Humar, Miha; Kržišnik, Davor; Turk, Monika; Tavzes, Črtomir; Gostinčar, Cene; Džeroski, Sašo; Popov, Stefan; Penko, Ana; Gunde‐Cimerman, Nina; Zalar, Polona

doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2022.105389

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…This is relevant when very few recent studies focus on image recognition of biodeterioration patterns particularly in paintings. For instance, recent research using machine learning to predict areas of deterioration based on information from cross-sections of samples (not based on the large-format images of the artworks) was used to study a tempera painting, Celje Ceiling , located in Old Counts’s Mansion, Slovenia 7 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidisciplinary approach to the study of large-format oil paintings

Calderón-Mesén

Jaikel-Víquez

Barrantes-Madrigal

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Cultural heritage has become a keystone for comprehending our society, as it represents and reflects our origins, passions, beliefs and traditions. Furthermore, it provides fundamental information about specific temporary spaces, materials’ availability, technology, artist’s intention, and site weather conditions. Our aim was to develop a multidisciplinary approach with a main focus on investigating two Italian large-format paintings located in highly diverse environments such as the National Theater of Costa Rica. We monitored environmental conditions and quantified fungal aerial spores. Then, we determined regions of possible biodeterioration with the software MicroorganismPattern and used the software PigmentArrangement to elucidate the apparent colour of the paintings based on distribution and arrangement of the pigment crystals. Finally, we characterized eight genera of calcareous nannofossils found in the ground layers of the artwork. The former Men’s Canteen at the National Theater of Costa Rica presented a mean air temperature of 23.5 $$^{\circ }$$ ∘ C, a relative humidity of 72.7% and a concentration of CO$$_{2}$$ 2 of 570 ppm. The fungal aerial concentration was 1776 spores/m$$^{3}$$ 3 . The software MicroorganismPattern identified 32 sampling regions, out of which 11 were positive for microbial contamination. The software PigmentArrangement determined that the blue crystals (ultramarine pigment) had the shortest distances between themselves (29 $$\upmu$$ μ m). Finally, the nanofossils identified enabled us to restrict the age of the material to a biostratigraphic interval ranging from Coniacian to Maastricthian ages. By using a multidisciplinary approach we were able to explore the diptych, suggest a set of minimally invasive perspectives in tropical environments to be used worldwide and obtain key information about the artist’s artistic process, materials used along with better understand its state of conservation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidisciplinary approach to the study of large-format oil paintings

Calderón-Mesén

Jaikel-Víquez

Barrantes-Madrigal

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…High numbers of visitors will contribute to higher humidity and carbon dioxide concentration, which can disrupt the indoor environment and further constitute a risk to the conservation of the murals [ 108 – 111 ]. The airflow in crowed archeological sites contains a high amount of fungal spores including the Aspergillus genus, Malassezia [ 109 , 112 ], and these genera are often the dominant genera on the surface of the murals and can lead to biodeterioration of the murals [ 109 , 113 ]. Without adequate protection measures, airborne fungi are an important source of contamination on the murals, and some murals can be seriously contaminated and even damaged after a large number of visitors come [ 114 ].…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Mural Contaminants Formation and Deteriorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current progress on murals: distribution, conservation and utilization

Wang

2023

Herit Sci

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As non-renewable cultural heritages, murals have important implications in historical customs, religions, and philosophy as well as their aesthetic values. Recently, many murals are threatened by natural factors and human activities. During the past decades, there are increasing interest in the investigation of murals. Here we review the current status of murals and provide an up-to-date summary of achievements related to murals. The murals that draw the most attention are distributed in Mexico, Ireland, China, and Spain. The aesthetics, history, cultural, educational, and economic values of murals are comprehensively analyzed. The main research technologies used to detect the chemical compositions and physical structures of murals are also summarized. The restoration of murals includes several procedures such as stabilization, repair, surface cleaning, and pigment reconversion. Emerging technologies such as computer science benefit the research and conservation of murals. We also propose that tourism management and climate change should be incorporated into the conservation of murals in the future.

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“…Figure 1. Historic oil painting RCS 15 [37] from the church with signs of biodeterioration on both sides. (A) Front side of the painting, (B-D) Back (courtesy of Polona Zalar), (E-G) Stratigraphy of the painting under UV light (courtesy of Katja Kavkler) showing the isolation layer between the canvas and the ground (E), the ground layer, the paint layer, and the surface of the varnish (F), and the ground layer and the paint layer (G), all with visible penetration of dark septate hyphae.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation Potential of Xerophilic and Xerotolerant Fungi Contaminating Historic Canvas Paintings

Kujović,

Gostinčar,

Kavkler

et al. 2024

JoF

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Fungi are important contaminants of historic canvas paintings worldwide. They can grow on both sides of the canvas and decompose various components of the paintings. They excrete pigments and acids that change the visual appearance of the paintings and weaken their structure, leading to flaking and cracking. With the aim of recognizing the most dangerous fungal species to the integrity and stability of paintings, we studied 55 recently isolated and identified strains from historic paintings or depositories, including 46 species from 16 genera. The fungi were categorized as xero/halotolerant or xero/halophilic based on their preference for solutes (glycerol or NaCl) that lower the water activity (aw) of the medium. Accordingly, the aw value of all further test media had to be adjusted to allow the growth of xero/halophilic species. The isolates were tested for growth at 15, 24 °C and 37 °C. The biodeterioration potential of the fungi was evaluated by screening their acidification properties, their ability to excrete pigments and their enzymatic activities, which were selected based on the available nutrients in paintings on canvas. A DNase test was performed to determine whether the selected fungi could utilize DNA of dead microbial cells that may be covering surfaces of the painting. The sequestration of Fe, which is made available through the production of siderophores, was also tested. The ability to degrade aromatic and aliphatic substrates was investigated to consider the potential degradation of synthetic restoration materials. Xerotolerant and moderately xerophilic species showed a broader spectrum of enzymatic activities than obligate xerophilic species: urease, β-glucosidase, and esterase predominated, while obligate xerophiles mostly exhibited β-glucosidase, DNase, and urease activity. Xerotolerant and moderately xerophilic species with the highest degradation potential belong to the genus Penicillium, while Aspergillus penicillioides and A. salinicola represent obligately xerophilic species with the most diverse degradation potential in low aw environments.

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A multidisciplinary study of biodeteriorated Celje Ceiling, a tempera painting on canvas

Cited by 15 publications

References 46 publications

Multidisciplinary approach to the study of large-format oil paintings

Multidisciplinary approach to the study of large-format oil paintings

Current progress on murals: distribution, conservation and utilization

Degradation Potential of Xerophilic and Xerotolerant Fungi Contaminating Historic Canvas Paintings

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