Study on the deterioration and conservation of the monument dedicated to the Fallen in the 'Risorgimento' battles, Ravenna (Italy)

摘要

The stone monument erected in 1888 and dedicated to the fallen in the "Risorgimento" battles is situated in Ravenna's city centre. The monument consists of some white marble statues, which rest on a majestic pedestal made up of pink granite; some particulars in bronze (bas-reliefs and garlands) complete the monument. Due to its very poor state of conservation, the monument has recently been subjected to restoration and conservation works. The restoration intervention was supported by an analytical study, by means of different techniques, of the deterioration forms present. This study allowed the products, the causes and the mechanisms of deterioration to be identified. In particular, the analytical study found a heavy deposition of atmospheric pollution from several anthropic sources, which had caused strong sulphation processes (transformation of CaCO_3 into gypsum) on the marble surfaces. A strong and diffuse biological weathering, due to lichens and algae was also detected, while the low part of the monument was covered by a large variety of graffiti. Finally, patinas, green in colour composed of copper sulfate were identified on the bronze particulars. The restoration and conservation intervention, carried out according to the analytical data, allowed the complete removal of the damage layers and of the graffiti, the consolidation and the protection of the monument.