The main objective of the course is to introduce the students to the application of science and technology to the knowledge and conservation of Cultural Heritage. The course will allow the students to understand the importance and value of Cultural Heritage and become familair with basic concept related to tangible Cultural Heritage. The course will teach how to read the different families of artworks from the material point of view. The students will be introduced to the main concept about the deterioration phenomena occurring to artefacts.  

The course starts from a general Introduction on the concept of “Cultural Heritage”, collection, museum, conservation and safeguard. It illustrates, from the material point of view, the different classes of artifacts: architectural heritage and sculpture, mural paintings, paintings on panel and canvas, metallic artifacts with particular attention to bronzes, modern and contemporary works of art and design objects realized with polymeric materials. The conservation and monitoring process of cultural heritage is based on the knowledge of the material characteristics and building/execution techniques. The course presents the characteristics and properties of the different classes of artifacts and discusses the main causes and mechanisms of deterioration due to the environmental interaction in a polluted atmosphere. The course also proposes the main principles and materials used in the conservation and restoration works.

After attending the course and after the final examination, the student:

• knows the main concepts of Cultural Heritage, deterioration, safeguard and conservation, monitoring.
• knows the main characteristics of artefacts such as historic built heritage, paintings and bronzes;
• is able to read and classify artifacts according to material science profile;
• is able to summarize and present the results of a bibliographic research in the field of Heritage Science

These learing outcomes are expected to provide the student basic knowledge tools necessary for their involvement in the field of Heritage science.

What is Cultural Heritage: concept and legislation, What are the main international Entities for the preservation of Cultural Heritage

What are preservation and conservation, What is Heritage Science

Environmental Pollution and Cultural Heritage: interaction in outdoor and indoor conditions

Architectural Heritage: deterioration and conservation of stone materials

Main characteristics of natural stones, mortars and gypsum, plasters, bricks and terracotta.

Deterioration and conservation of built heritage.

Metallic artifacts, bronzes: properties, corrosion and deterioration problems, conservation.

Mural Paintings: an introduction to material characteristics from rock art to the murals of XXth century. Main deterioration and conservation problems.

Painting on panel and canvas: painting materials and techniques. Pigments and binders and their deterioration.

Early polymeric materials used in objects and works of art. The challenges of conserving plastics in museum environmental conditions.

Nanomaterials used in the field of conservation. Application for cleaning, consolidation and protection of artifacts.

A background with basic knowledge of inorganic and organic chemistry

A background in material science and technology and material characterization

For attending Students. The exam consists of an oral presentation about a topic selected and agreed among those proposed by the Teacher and based on a bibliographic research made by the Student; the colloquium will be completed by some questions about the general background on the same topic. The exam will be sufficient after a presentation characterized by sufficient clarity, synthesis and respect of assigned time. The Student should also demonstrate to be able to discuss similar arguments connected to those of the presentation and possess a general overview of the argument.

For not-attending Students. The exam consists of a written multiple choice test about the whole Program. The test is composed by multiple choice questions and 2 open questions. The Student should get a sufficient evaluation.