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The condition of the ‘Door of Paradise’ by L. Ghiberti. Tests and proposals for cleaning

1982; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 27; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1179/sic.1982.27.4.145

2047-0584

P. Fiorentino, Maurizio Marabelli, M Matteini, A. Moles,

Building materials and conservation

An analysis has been completed of the state of degradation of the gilded surface of one of the 10 panels of the so-called ‘Door of Paradise’ of the Baptistry in Florence. This work, carried out by Lorenzo Ghiberti and completed by him in 1452, has, during the centuries, undergone a complex of chemical and physical phenomena which have profoundly altered the nature and appearance of the surface. Recently, with the advent of the industrial society, atmospheric pollution has produced changes which have accelerated in an alarming manner the degradation and loss of the already damaged gilding. The situation calls for an immediate cleaning operation, not only for aesthetic reasons but especially in order to remove from the surface all materials dangerous to the future conservation of this work of art. Three appropriate solvent-reagent systems have been selected and put to the test in the laboratory and in situ. Two of these consist of formulations of complexing agents: Rochelle salt and the trisodium salt of EDT A; the third is a mixed-bed ion-exchange resin. The experimental results fully confirm the efficacy and safety of the three substances.