UMYMFOR   05516
UNIDAD DE MICROANALISIS Y METODOS FISICOS EN QUIMICA ORGANICA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Fungal deterioration of a Jesuit South American polychrome wood sculpture
Autor/es:
A.T. FAZIO, L. PAPINUTTI, B.A. GÓMEZ, S.D. PARERA, A. RODRÍGUEZ ROMERO, G. SIRACUSANO AND M.S. MAIER
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
Editorial:
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Referencias:
Año: 2010 vol. 64 p. 694 - 701
ISSN:
0964-8305
Resumen:
<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 85.05pt 70.85pt 85.05pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> This manuscript describes the characterization of materials (pigments and plaster) and the biodeterioration of a Jesuit South American polychrome sculpture housed at the Museum of Natural Sciences in La Plata, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The sculpture, called The Trinity is part of a group of wooden polychrome sculptures produced during the so-called Colonial period (17th – 18th centuries) in a Jesuit Mission of Paraguay. This is the first time that the material has been evaluated and biodeterioration in the sculptures investigated by a scientific team composed of art historians, biologists and chemists. There is no tradition in Argentina concerning these integral studies. Although we have previously characterized pigments and plasters in easel paintings of the same period and these data have been helpful for the restoration of these art works, the present study is very important for art history, restorers and the conservation of the sculpture. Firstly, we were able to characterize calcium carbonate as the plaster, which is noteworthy taking into account that gypsum, characteristic of Italy and Spain, was the plaster identified in other sculptures of the same collection. The identification of calcite, used as a plaster for polychrome sculptures in the northern Europe countries, might indicate the influence of Austrian masters active in this mission. On the other hand, we were able to characterize for the first time the presence of green earth used as a pigment in a Colonial art work. Secondly, we were able to identify the presence of two fungi Nigrospora sphaerica (Sac.) Mason and Chaethomium globosum Kunze, which appear to be responsible for the deterioration of the wood of the sculpture. These results will help in the restoration of the sculpture and in the selection of the best conservation strategy of this valuable sculpture belonging to South American cultural heritage.