Documentation and Scientific Investigation on the ‘Crucifixion’ by Balletta in the church of Santa Maria Nova in Viterbo (Italy). Conservation and Religious Requirements

Abstract

This paper reports the results of the documentation and non-invasive analysis performed on a wall painting representing the Crucifixion and attributed to Francesco d’Antonio Zacchi, also known as Balletta, an important 15th century artist operating in Viterbo (Italy). The wall painting is located in a chapel on the right wall of the church of Santa Maria Nova, one of the oldest churches in Viterbo with a great religious relevance for the local parishioners. The documentation and the diagnostic analysis were performed in 2014 on the occasion of the last conservative intervention promoted by Rotary Club and founded by the Bank of Viterbo. The intervention was aimed at cleaning the wall paintings by removing the old restoration materials and the dirt and sooty layers obscuring the Crucifixion. The 2D and 3D documentation was made by digital photogrammetric and close range image systems respectively. The analysis was performed through non-invasive techniques such as: ultraviolet fluorescence digital photography, video microscope acquisitions, X-ray spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was also applied, but only on the superimposed materials that should be removed during the conservative intervention. The application of these non-invasive techniques allowed to identify the pigments used for the painting and to make hypothesis about the execution technique. Moreover the analysis highlighted the presence of non-original interventions and materials.