Restoration of a Historic Pharmacy Ceiling in Italy

For two and a half months, we had the privilege of working on the restoration of a room belonging to a noble family in southern-central Italy. This historic residence, over 150 years old, features an impressive ceiling mural in the main room, painted on paper. The use of painted wallpapers as a decorative element became popular in the 18th century. Previously, in France and England, so-called wall papers were manufactured as an affordable alternative to expensive tapestries. The first wallpapers were hand-painted, and later, various printing techniques were introduced. The house, like many others in the region, was severely affected by the October 26, 2002 earthquake, compounded by pre-existing humidity issues. Restoring it required careful preservation of the artwork, surface cleaning, and precise color matching to seamlessly integrate the original design.

The use of painted wallpapers as a decorative element became popular in the 18th century. Previously, in France and England, so-called wall papers were manufactured as an affordable alternative to expensive tapestries. The first wallpapers were hand-painted, and later, various printing techniques were introduced.

The house in question, like many others in the region, was severely affected by the earthquake on October 26, 2002. In addition, there was a pre-existing humidity issue, which further complicated the conservation condition. The restoration was a considerable challenge, as it involved a delicate process to preserve the pictorial elements, clean and polish the surfaces, and find the specific tones. Furthermore, it was necessary to simulate the original texture and brushstroke to achieve full integration of the artwork.

Here are some before-and-after images of the restoration process.

Contact: @cierimaria y @emmafrutosrojos

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