Roma

Rome, archaeological area of Palatine, House of Livia

DATA SHEET

DATING:

I century AC

LOCATION:

Palatine, the archaeological area of the Roman Forum

CUSTOMER:

Archaeological Superintendency of Rome – Dr. Gianna Musatti

THE PROBLEM

The murals decorating the walls of the house of Livia on the Palatine are all frescoes detached and mounted on canvas and wooden frames or concrete panels.
Our intervention has faced the dismantling of these panels which were no longer adequate and large enough (m 2 x 3), the removal of the frameworks’ rear, of the supporting canvas orand of the cement with welded mesh, and lastly the replacement with areolam panels. The work was completed with the on-site re-assembly  and with the restoration of all surfaces.

THE METHOD

Once the dismantling of the panels was completed and the placement of panels on some specially constructed tables was done, the intervention proceeded with the removal of canvas and frameworks, and then the cleaning of the back side. About the painting which was mounted on cement, upon glaze, the original one was released by thinning the cement, cutting it into small sections and mechanically let it came off. Then the frescoes have been fit together with the areolam panels, which were shaped and reinforced by a telio steel, due to the use of an adhesive mortar, specially designed using a 36 hours vacuum-sealed . Once the dryng phase was completed, we proceeded with the in situ replacement  and with the surfaces restoration.