Investigation of some wooden decorated elements and restoration of the choir in the cathedral of San Rufino in Assisi
Author(s)
Date Issued
2020
Type
article
Volume
16
Issue
2
Start Page
135
End Page
143
Abstract
In the Cathedral of San Rufino in Assisi (central Italy) there is an interesting wooden choir, probably built between 1518 and 1527, by Giovanni di Pier Jacopo from San Severino Marche. The choir is constituted by two orders of stalls, which were reworked over time. In 2004 a restoration, completed in 2005, was undertaken in order to solve some problems caused by the loss of alignment and functionality among stalls and seats. Moreover some frames were missing; some parts were badly deteriorated due to attacks by xylophagous insects. During this intervention some erratic decorated elements with wooden marquetry were found under the choir stalls. The main results concerning the identification of the botanical species, the FTIR analysis of the surface materials and the restoration criteria are reported. Only wood from broadleaf species was found. Juglans regia (European walnut), both for the structure and for tiles, and Euonymus europaeus L. (European spindle tree) were identified as species. Other tiles were identified as belonging from Oak (gen. Quercus), and from Rosaceae (probably gen. Pyrus and Pmnus). Two wood samples, different one each other, remain identified as broadleaf species. The FTIR analysis evidenced the presence of proteinaceous material. This evidence suggests that these relict elements may have originated in the first installation of the choir, before the final finishing. The recent intervention restored the alignment between the stalls and the seats, guaranteed good support for all the parts and, at the same time, the distribution of the loads in the entire structure was favoured. This work was an opportunity to gather information on some artistic techniques documented by this choir and to share them with the scientific community In conclusion, the minimum sampling approach proved to be useful for obtaining valuable information on works of art.
Project(s)
Wood in cultural heritage