The research unit deals with topics concerning cultural heritage diagnostics and conservation. The materials analysed are mainly wall paintings, bronzes and stones, both natural (rocks) and artificial (bricks and mortars), used with building and ornamental purpose in sculptures, monuments, historical buildings and archaeological contexts. Research activities are carried out with a mineralogical-petrographic and geochemical approach, and include the characterization of materials and their decay processes, the study of real cases during conservation interventions, and archaeometric and authentication issues.
The main research fields are the following:
- mineralogical-petrographic, chemical e physical characterization;
- identification of provenance;
- study of alteration/decay processes and phenomena;
- mapping of materials and state of conservation of works of art and historical centers;
- study of ancient treatments of monumental and sculptural surfaces;
- identification of pictorial techniques in ancient wall paintings;
- analysis of casting cores of bronze sculptures in the frame of studies on execution techniques, identification of provenance, characterization of foundry workshops and authentication;
- study and validation of the interaction between materials and products/methods for restoration;
- validation of new instruments for diagnostics.
The Research Unit collaborates with the following institutions: Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara”, Florence (IFAC-CNR); Laboratorio di Tecniche Nucleari per i Beni Culturali at Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Florence section (LABEC-INFN); Istituto per la Conservazione e la Valorizzazione dei Beni Culturali, Florence (ICVBC-CNR); Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence; Istituto Centrale del Restauro, Rome; Laboratories of Superintendences of Aosta and Bologna, the Universities of Florence, Pisa, Venice, Urbino and Messina.
Besides, the research unit collaborates with local Superintendences and other institutions dealing with conservation and development of cultural heritage (e.g. Siena municipality) and with the Accademia dei Fisiocritici – Siena.
