Vittoriano
The restoration intervention, carried out by Consorzio Artificia, began with detailed photographic documentation of the artwork's state of preservation through a preliminary phase, which consisted of removing incoherent surface deposits with soft-bristle brushes and micro-aspirators, followed by the creation of cleaning samples to refine the intervention methods.
Subsequently, the cleaning of all surfaces began with swabbing with deionized water and neutral surfactant and a subsequent rinse with deionized water, then continuing with the use of suitable solvent mixtures, applied by swabbing or by means of gel, followed by a further wash with deionized water and consequent dehydration with jets of hot air.
The cleaning of the silver surfaces was finished with the application of a paste of sodium bicarbonate in deionized water and non-ionic detergents, applied by swabbing and subsequently rinsed.
Locally, cleaning was finished with manual use of natural bristle brushes and the aid of probes and precision instruments.
At the conclusion of the intervention—following the cleaning operations—the surfaces were selectively protected with a low-percentage acrylic resin solution for the bronze and with nitrocellulose resin for the silver and gilded bronze surfaces.
