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Photos: Details of ancient mosaics conserved by Parma Conservation
News
The renovated galleries of ancient art at the Art Institute of Chicago reopened on November 11, 2012. Among exhibited precious objects there are 8 mosaics restored by Parma Conservation. The mosaics were originally part of a marble tesserae floor from a villa on Monte Rosario near Rome. The mosaic floor wasn’t discovered until 1823, when two Englishmen, Lord Kinnaind and Lord William Russell, traveled throughout Italy. They visited the excavation site, and arranged to jointly purchase the floor, have it restored in Rome, and then brought to England. The mosaics were brought to Woburn Abbey, near Bedford England, where they were incorporated into a new mosaic floor, with reproductions having been made of any missing areas of tile. Literature is scarce, but at some point the floor in the abbey was disassembled, and the original parts of the Roman floor were exhibited at the National Gallery of Edinburgh from 1989 to 2009. When the exhibit closed, the mosaics were auctioned at Sotheby’s. Miraculously, two female allegorical heads and six still lives, all part of the original floor, were never separated, even though they were sold in three (3) separate lots at auction.
The mosaics survived from the 2nd century A.D. to the present day despite installation, excavation, restoration, reassembly, disassembly, exhibition and auction. Even more astounding, all eight pieces survived together, and are now safe in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The renovated galleries of ancient art at the Art Institute of Chicago reopened on November 11, 2012. Among exhibited precious objects there are 8 mosaics restored by Parma Conservation. The mosaics were originally part of a marble tesserae floor from a villa on Monte Rosario near Rome. The mosaic floor wasn’t discovered until 1823, when two Englishmen, Lord Kinnaind and Lord William Russell, traveled throughout Italy. They visited the excavation site, and arranged to jointly purchase the floor, have it restored in Rome, and then brought to England. The mosaics were brought to Woburn Abbey, near Bedford England, where they were incorporated into a new mosaic floor, with reproductions having been made of any missing areas of tile. Literature is scarce, but at some point the floor in the abbey was disassembled, and the original parts of the Roman floor were exhibited at the National Gallery of Edinburgh from 1989 to 2009. When the exhibit closed, the mosaics were auctioned at Sotheby’s. Miraculously, two female allegorical heads and six still lives, all part of the original floor, were never separated, even though they were sold in three (3) separate lots at auction.
The mosaics survived from the 2nd century A.D. to the present day despite installation, excavation, restoration, reassembly, disassembly, exhibition and auction. Even more astounding, all eight pieces survived together, and are now safe in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Last Thursday of Every Month
Networking Event and Presentation
Sponsored by DPR Art Rescue
Please join us on the last Thursday of each month for a networking event and presentations by conservators, art world vendors, and historic preservation enthusiasts. All events include open area networking, round table discussions, and complimentary hors d' oeuvres and beverages. Doors are open from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. for each event at 424 N. Oakley Blvd., Chicago IL, 60612.
April features Andrzej Dajnowski, Ph.D., director of CSOS, Inc.
This presentation will discuss basic operation principals of lasers and the use of laser ablation for removal of deteriorated coatings as well as cleaning of various materials including entire buildings. Advantages in use of laser for graffiti removal will be discussed.
Laser technology provides conservators with a cost effective and safe tool for the controlled surface treatment and avoiding environmental issues and their financial consequences. The laser procedures for determining optimal treatment parameters will be illustrated by providing examples of treatment performed by the presenter.
Primary Learning Items
1. Basic information on operation of laser
2. Advantages of use of ablation process
3. Comparison of laser cleaning to traditional methods
4. Evaluation of various laser treatment results
5. Understanding of when the laser technology is appropriate to use for preservation of historical heritage
For more information and to RSVP please call 312-243-9747 or email diana@dprartrescue.com.
Mark your calendar for more networking events:
May 30 | June 27 | July 25 | August 29 | September 26 | October 31 | November 21 | December 19
Networking Event and Presentation
Sponsored by DPR Art Rescue
Please join us on the last Thursday of each month for a networking event and presentations by conservators, art world vendors, and historic preservation enthusiasts. All events include open area networking, round table discussions, and complimentary hors d' oeuvres and beverages. Doors are open from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. for each event at 424 N. Oakley Blvd., Chicago IL, 60612.
April features Andrzej Dajnowski, Ph.D., director of CSOS, Inc.
This presentation will discuss basic operation principals of lasers and the use of laser ablation for removal of deteriorated coatings as well as cleaning of various materials including entire buildings. Advantages in use of laser for graffiti removal will be discussed.
Laser technology provides conservators with a cost effective and safe tool for the controlled surface treatment and avoiding environmental issues and their financial consequences. The laser procedures for determining optimal treatment parameters will be illustrated by providing examples of treatment performed by the presenter.
Primary Learning Items
1. Basic information on operation of laser
2. Advantages of use of ablation process
3. Comparison of laser cleaning to traditional methods
4. Evaluation of various laser treatment results
5. Understanding of when the laser technology is appropriate to use for preservation of historical heritage
For more information and to RSVP please call 312-243-9747 or email diana@dprartrescue.com.
Mark your calendar for more networking events:
May 30 | June 27 | July 25 | August 29 | September 26 | October 31 | November 21 | December 19
- Parma Conserves Historic Mural in Manhattan
- Restoring the Artifacts of Mother Cabrini and Discovering Her Legacy
- The Science of Crating Art
- Historically Sidetracked
- Not All that Glitters Is Gold