Restoration of Cultural Heritage

The course is aimed at training Conservation Scientists through the acquisition of advanced theoretical, methodological, and technical skills in the field of Conservation and Restoration, with a specific focus on movable works of art. The teaching aims to develop the student's ability to critically and independently address conservation issues, fostering dialogue and collaboration with the various professionals involved in restoration projects.
The curriculum includes the study of constituent materials and painting techniques, with particular attention to mural paintings, panel paintings, and canvas paintings, from Antiquity to the modern era. The training activities involve exercises in recognizing artistic techniques, original materials, and alteration products, integrating this knowledge with an analysis of the potential offered by diagnostic methodologies.
This combination will form the core of the critical reflection on each restoration project, providing students with a solid methodological foundation to define objectives and operational methods within potential conservation intervention protocols

The student will need to develop the ability to read and analyze the material traces that reveal the artistic techniques used in artworks, as well as any previous restoration interventions. They will be able to identify the phenomena of alteration or deterioration in both the original and restoration materials, allowing for an accurate assessment of the conservation state of historical and artistic artifacts.
Furthermore, it will be essential for the student to be familiar with all phases of a conservation project, from diagnostic investigations, both invasive and non-invasive, to modern restoration procedures. They should be able to select the most appropriate diagnostic techniques for a thorough material and structural analysis of the artwork.
The methodological approach will be enriched by an independent critical capacity in analyzing every phase of the conservation intervention, thanks to a well-balanced interdisciplinary perspective. The student will be expected to master the technical language specific to conservation and restoration, actively participating in discussions on real case studies during educational visits and seminars with field experts.
A solid understanding of the history of restoration, as well as the key issues in the critical and methodological debates surrounding the discipline, will be an integral part of the training. Finally, the student will need to demonstrate extensive knowledge of the relevant bibliography, continually updating and expanding their expertise through the independent study of texts, scientific articles, seminars, and conferences.