Santa Maria Degli Angiolini Conservation Project

Conservation Project while studying in Florence, Italy.  

Challenge

Undertaken at the Conservatorio di Santa Maria degli Angiolini in Florence, this project involved the complex removal of a 17th-century Fresco Secco that covered an original 16th-century work. The primary challenge was to safely expose the underlying Mezzo Fresco while preserving its delicate structural integrity.

Technical Solution

The conservation process required a highly delicate and methodical approach. The intervention consisted of the following stages:

• Stratigraphic Removal: The 17th-century Fresco Secco layer was meticulously removed (delayering) to expose the original 16th-century surface.

• Cleaning: Once the Mezzo Fresco was revealed, a thorough surface cleaning was performed to remove residues and accumulated grime.

• Infilling: Areas of material loss (lacunae) were stabilized and filled with conservation-grade mortar to level the surface.

• Inpainting: The final stage involved chromatic integration (inpainting) to restore the visual unity of the artwork, ensuring the original painting was legible again while respecting its age and history.

The Result and Images The intervention successfully recovered the original 16th-century Mezzo Fresco, bringing a piece of hidden history back to light. The structural integrity of the plaster has been secured, and the aesthetic readability of the painting has been restored.

Before-After