Art conservators nowadays have at their disposal many more technological means and aids, in order to keep the cultural heritage of mankind in good condition for the next generations. Technology, however, sometimes has to back down for more orthodox solutions, such as the one applied by Italian experts in the maintenance of a famous Medici chapel in Florence, with works created by Michael Angelos.
The powerful Medici family commissioned the great artist in 1520 to create the chapel, which would also serve as a burial ground for some of its prominent members; by Michael Angelos, along with four allegorical figures representing the hours of the day and the Virgin Mary with the Divine Infant.
The conservationists undertook to clean the monument and re-present it to the public on the occasion of the 545th anniversary of the birth of the great renaissance teacher, however after eight whole years of work, there were still stains impossible to clean on the white marble. The main problem was in one of the sarcophagi, whose occupant had not first been cremated, as was the custom of the time for the members of the Medici, with the result that the decomposition process damaged the delicate work of the sculptor.
Somewhere there the conservators decided to use special strains of bacteria, which had already been proven in the laboratory to be very effective in cleaning such stains. The solution was given by Serratia ficaria, a bacterium that causes urinary tract infections, which managed to remove the dirt in just two days.
“The restoration of one of the most symbolic cultural monuments required knowledge, experience and science, combined with sensitivity and ingenuity,” said Monica Bieti, art historian and project manager.
Money Review with information from the Guardian
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