Restoration of the Internal Walls of the Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Year: 2012
Location: Introbio (LC)
In January 2006, stratigraphic analyses were conducted on the internal walls of the Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Introbio to evaluate the presence of hidden decorations and define conservation and restoration interventions. The analyses focused on the internal surfaces of the nave, partially covered by wooden wainscoting.
STRUCTURAL SUPPORT
• The walls are constructed of well-preserved and stable stone masonry.
LAYERS OF PLASTER
• Base Plaster: Composed of lime putty and sand with medium-coarse granularity.
• Ivory White Limewash: A compact and durable layer applied directly onto fresh plaster.
• Pink Limewash: Less compact, applied on a dry surface.
• Green Tempera Paint: The most recent layer, poorly cohesive and deteriorated.
HIDDEN DECORATIONS
• No pictorial decorations or artistic motifs were identified beneath the visible layers. The walls originally featured a uniform white finish.
MATERIAL QUALITY
• The plaster and ivory white limewash are of excellent quality and well-preserved.
• The subsequent layers, such as the pink limewash and green tempera, exhibit lower cohesion and signs of deterioration.
CONSERVATION STATUS
• The masonry and older plaster layers show no significant issues.
• The green tempera layer is deteriorated, with poor adhesion to the underlying layers.
• Removal of Green Tempera: Eliminate the deteriorated layer to restore the walls’ original appearance.
• Use Compatible Materials: Employ lime-based products for reintegration, respecting the original techniques.
• Surface Protection: Apply appropriate treatments to protect the older layers from further degradation.
The absence of hidden decorations beneath the visible layers confirms that the internal walls of the church originally featured a uniform white finish. The restoration, focused on removing deteriorated layers and preserving the original plaster, will restore the church’s historical and aesthetic integrity.
