Conservação de duas esculturas da Coleção do Museu da FBAUP

: Marcellus como Hermes Logios (gesso) e O Repouso (argamassa cimentícia) : abordagem no âmbito da conservação verde : volume I

Abstract

Marcellus como Hermes Logios (a copy) and O Repouso by Gustavo Bastos are two sculptures of the didactic art collection of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto. The first one can be related to a teaching method that this institution has applied over time and that is common to all art academies, which promotes the study of art based on observation and copy of models. While the second one stands for a greater freedom in artistic education, valuing modernity and the creativity of its students. Therefore, the collection belonging to this institution’s museum places itself as of great interest to the public and of undeniable patrimonial value, both making indispensable and urgent its study and preservation. The scarcity of information regarding conservation methods for most of the materials that constitute this works of art (e.g. plaster and cement, as is the case of both sculptures involved) justifies the development and application of specific methods and techniques. Furthermore, given the growing and natural concern with environmental sustainability and health risks for the operator, it is important to establish solutions and treatment methods that are in accordance with the principles of green conservation. The present dissertation thus aims to contribute to the establishment of appropriate methodologies for the treatment of both indoors and outdoors sculptures of a pedagogic nature made of gypsum or cement-based mortars. The analytic techniques implemented have confirmed the complexity of the materials and, therefore, reinforced the need for a careful definition of the procedures to be applied. Hence, it presents substantiated treatment proposals, documenting their application and the success of the conservation processes implemented in each one of the sculptures. The methods selected have good performance and efficiency with little damage to the environment and little risk to the conservator-restorer. Nevertheless, the research carried out in the field of green conservation has shown that the definition of a methodology with uniform and transversal criteria is difficult, depending on a balance between different factors such as protection of the environment, the operator's health and the quality of the cleaning and preservation work.

Date of Award	18 Feb 2021
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Eduarda Vieira (Supervisor), Patrícia R. Costa (Co-Supervisor) & Rui Bordalo (Co-Supervisor)