Deterioration and preservation of Carolingian and mediaeval mural paintings in the Müstair Convent (Switzerland) Part I: Decay mechanisms and preservation
Alison Arnold|A W Kung|Konrad Zehnder
1 THE PROBLEM Since the wall paintings were restored in 1947-51 accelerated decay has been observed. Three types of deterioration occur: deposition dirt, 2 detachment Romanesque intonaco from its support, 3 produced by soluble salts. In order to understand entire problem, some general features and main events which have affected will be mentioned. The Miistair Convent is situated on an alluvial cone at 1250 meters above sea level, Miinstertal,a valley issuing northern Italy southeastern border Switzerland. coneis used as farming land. church integrated into building complex convent southern eastern side lie next a public cemetery. walls, composed local rubble stones (schists, gneisses rauhwackes) lime mortars, still carry original mediaeval plaster their outside. Only basal zones, where they ground moisture, replaced mortars containing Portland cement. walls show normal aspect rising damp up three-four soil. inner surface covered Carolingian plasters frescoes, ones with are superposed. Actually preserved portions frescoes visible all exception three apses, well-preserved Romanesque. partially The. that mural given Table 1. most remarkable two fires eleventh fifteenth centuries, last restoration
Studies in Conservation