Legend of Theodolinda in Monza Cathedral returns to former glory

The Chapel of Theodolinda has been returned to its original state. After nearly seven years of conservation work, a series of wall paintings depicting the life of the Lombard Queen who converted pagans and founded the palatine chapel where the current Duomo of Monza now stands, has been officially restored to the city. ENEA and other research centers such as the CNR, and Opificio delle Pietre Dure, have all been involved with the restoration of an artwork that had been severely damaged over time.

ENEA has taken part in the process from the very beginning with extensive screening to identify the original materials used, those adopted in successive restorations and thus suitable techniques. Non- destructive studies were conducted on the entire works, then, during conservation, in-depth laboratory analysis using micro-samples were carried out. The technique of X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) was adopted, whereby the painted surface is exposed to high-energy X-rays or gamma rays and the energy and intensity of the X-ray fluorescence emitted is measured. In this way information is obtained about the composition of materials, enabling their identification – for example, pigments containing heavy chemical elements.

“The Life of Queen Theodolinda” is the largest cycle of International Gothic frescoes in Italy. They were painted between 1441 and 1446 by the Zavattari's, a family of artists who had their studio in Milan. The group of works is made up of 45 scenes or episodes, presented in 5 registers that cover 500 square meters of the Chapel's wall on the left of the central apse of the Duomo. The poor state of the works was due mainly to the perishable nature of the organic materials (such as oil and egg) used for the fresco-secco painting. Additionally, since the 1700's the Chapel has been restored, on average, every 50 years, invasive techniques such as repainting and gilding the deteriorated areas rather than solving the origin of the problem and other contributing factors, for example, humidity and the acrid smoke from oil lamps and candles, have worsened the situation.

ENEA has been active for ten years in protecting Italian and international artistic heritage. All this thanks to expertise in high quality equipment: from diagnostic studies using gamma-ray photography, infrared thermography, X-ray fluorescence, optical and electronic microscopes, neutron tomography used in the conservation of Italian Renaissance masterpieces such as “The Deposition” of Raphael and “The Virgin of Mercy” of Piero della Francesca; to laser technology, including the patented Imaging Topological Radar with which it is possible to reveal the morphology and colours of an art work and to construct a highly accurate image superior to those produced by conventional means. This last technique has been adopted in the Sistine Chapel and the Loggia of Cupid and Psyche by Rapheal in Villa Farnesina, Rome.

Another project that has aroused much interest is the innovative shockproof isolation system designed and made specially for the conservation of the Bronzes of Riace in the Reggio Calabria Museum and tested in the ENEA Casaccia Research Centre. These techniques can be applied to any tall, free-standing statue and have also been used to stabilise the bronze statues of Archangel Michael and the Dragon, originally on the facade of the Orvieto Cathedral.

Innovative earthquake-resistant techniques and intervention methods that combine security with the demands of  conservation have been developed to protect the historical monument patrimony and used, for example, on the Bridge of Towers in Spoleto.

Furthermore, endoscopic, thermographic and vibrational studies are being  used to complete restoration of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii. Standard techniques have been combined with innovative methods such as low-altitude remote sensoring, using drones for the acquisition and processing of high-definition images.

Enea has signed an agreement with the Vatican Museum for the development of advanced technologies to protect the Vatican's cultural and artistic heritage, such as “Bio-restoration”, a unique method developed at ENEA. Bio- restoration employs microorganisms to clean up works of art by removing undesired deposits, for example, old glue. The method has many economic and environmental advantages and is being currently used to restore statues and fountains in the Vatican Gardens.

In order to transport safely the famous Roman marble statue “Augustus of Prima Porta” from the Vatican Museum to the Quirinal Stables in Rome, then to Paris and finally back to the Vatican, a complex and innovative system was devised. The system concentrated on protecting the most vulnerable parts of the statue: the arms, calves and the cloak. All operations were monitored  by means of a system of sensors located on areas of the statue and its base that were most at risk.

ENEA has also carried out experimental analysis and precise digital modulation to measure environmental vibrations in works from various eras, for example, the Column of Marcus Aurelius and the Trajan's Column, the Colosseum, the Temple of Minerva Medica, the Flaminio Obelisk, the Temple of Hercules  in the Forum Boarium, the Villa Farnesina and the Lateran Obelisk.

In overseas projects ENEA has used innovative tecnhology. For example, Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), ground-based interferometer (GB_SAR) and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), multi-time laser scanner to measure and evaluate underground subsidence that is affecting all of the Machu Picchu archeological site.

For further information regarding the Theodolinda Chapel please contact:

Claudio Seccaroni, ENEA Casaccia Research Center, claudio.seccaroni@enea.it