Amelia International Conservation Studies

Syllabus - Paper Media and Conservation of Art on Paper

Summer Semester, 2024
Mon, June 10 - Fri, Jul 21, 2024 (two first weeks)
Amelia, Italy
Meets daily:
Location: Largo Caduti dì Nassiriya e Kabul, 1 (classroom for both lectures and workshop)
Lead Instructors: Manuela Belli / Laura Chignoli

No prerequisites required.

Course Description:
This course gives an overview of the field of conservation of paper media and art on paper. Theoretical lectures address aspects such as the nature and history of paper; the traditional methods of paper making and printing; the processes of deterioration over time; handling and mounting; and the various treatment methods of conservation of art on paper. Practical workshops will give students the opportunity to apply conservation treatments on works of art on paper from the Amelia Historic Archive and on original prints and drawings from private collections.

Summary of Lecture and/or Workshop Content
History of writing supports and their evolution:

  • ●        History and the making of handmade paper

    ●        Paper watermarks

    ●        Modern paper

    ●        Art on paper (prints, watercolors, drawings, collage etc.).

Chemistry, properties and behavior of paper, cardboard and adhesives and their characteristics:
+ special seminar with Prof. Leonardo Borgioli

  • ●        Cellulose

    ●        Microscopic analysis, reflected, translucent and racking light

    ●        Identification of adhesives and additives in paper

    ●        Measuring pH and deacidification

    ●        Adhesives used in paper conservation.

Techniques and methods of identification of artworks:

  • ● Print techniques: woodcuts, dry point, etching, engraving, lithography, silk-screen

    printing

    ● Photography

    ● Drawing techniques: charcoal, pencil, ink

    ● Painting on paper techniques: watercolors, tempera, oil and acrylic on paper.

    Approach to the conservation of art on paper:

    ●        Concepts and principles of preservation, preventive conservation, and conservation of art on paper

    ●        Documentation methods and techniques

    ●        Conservation planning

    ●        Processes of conservation of art on paper

    o   Equipment

    o   Materials

    o   Techniques

    o   Outcomes

Deterioration of art on paper:

  • ● Main causes of deterioration

    ● Terminology of paper deterioration agents

    ● Processes and examples of deterioration.


    Conservation treatments for art on paper:

  • ● Dry cleaning

    ● Backing removal techniques (local humidification, gels etc.)

    ● Washing

    ● Sizing/consolidation

    ● Drying

    ● Paper repairs and infills

    ● Paper toning

    ● Flattening

    ● Handling, mounting and housing techniques for storage and display.

Additional Information:
This course is aimed at students who are seeking a career in conservation and for those interested in working with works of art on paper in libraries, archives or museums. It will provide them with a basic introduction to the principles and practices of paper conservation, that can lead to further education in the field, as well as a fundamental understanding of the processes of deterioration and the practical skills necessary for the conservation and preservation of works of art on paper.

The practical conservation work to be carried out during the workshop will make use of trial objects for training purposes and will also include actual conservation work on original material from the Amelia Historic Archives (13th-19th centuries). 

The course will include study visits to local libraries, archives and museums, providing the students with a rare opportunity to experience real case studies and see rare collections of works of art on paper. A visit will also be paid to the historic Fabriano paper and watermark museum.

Student Learning Outcomes:
 Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

●        Analyze and describe chemical, biological and mechanical agents and processes of deterioration

●        Complete condition assessment and treatment reports.

●        Identify visually and through chemical analysis paper and document characteristics such as the types of paper, printing processes, watermarks and inks pertinent to treatment.

●        Assess and apply the various methods of conservation to counteract deterioration

●        Select appropriate materials and apply techniques for the housing and display of archival material.

 Recommended Reading
●        Bainbridge, A. (Ed.). Conservation of Books, Routledge, 2023 https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003162674
●        Bamber Gascoigne, How to Identify Prints, A complete guide to manual and mechanical processes from woodcut to ink-jet, Thames and Hudson, 1986. (free access here: https://archive.org/details/howtoidentifypri00gasc/page/n7/mode/2up)
●        Dard Hunter, Papermaking, The History and Technique of an Ancient Craft, Dover, New York, 1978.

Late Assignment Policies
Students work on projects simultaneously as they wait for various stages to dry. Projects may be completed in any order as there is no individual deadline for each of the projects, but all work must be completed by the final day of class in Amelia, Italy. The workshop lab is dismantled the following day after the program ends and students will not have access to materials or lab space. No work is accepted after the last day of class.   

Must be taken with the following co-requisite:
Conservation of Manuscript and Printed Archival Material