Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE BLH4025

 
TITLE Introduction to Causes and Processes of Deterioration

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Conservation and Built Heritage

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will introduce the students to the deterioration of cultural heritage by providing basic knowledge on causes and processes of deterioration relevant for a wide range of historic artifacts and decorative surfaces.

The topic will be approached starting from the key role played by the condition assessment of cultural heritage artifacts/decorative surfaces preserved in different physical contexts (historic sites, museums, storage areas, etc.) to inform conservation decisions. The general methodology used in the field for assessing the condition of historic sites and artifacts will be introduced.

A general overview on the main causes and processes of deterioration of historic artifacts/decorative surfaces will be provided, while the unit will focus more specifically on those processes caused by environmental factors, in particular relative humidity, temperature, light, atmospheric pollutants, salts and biological activity.

The role of basic key physical and chemical properties inherent to a range of cultural heritage materials will also be tackled, along with some critical issues and characteristics of specific cultural heritage artifacts (e.g. exposure to uncontrolled environment, impact of layered structure).

The impact of environmental factors on historic sites and artifacts will be discussed using relevant case studies, and during site visits meant to examine historic sites and artifacts within their physical context.

This study-unit will provide the foundation for the MSc during which the students will deal with deterioration causes and processes pertinent to their specific stream.

Study-Unit Aims:

- This study-unit aims to provide the students with fundamentals on the deterioration causes and processes relevant for historic sites and for a wide range of cultural heritage artifacts;
- It also aims to demonstrate the importance of the condition assessment of historic sites/artifacts for informing conservation decisions and for establishing appropriate conservation strategies.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Define and explain the main causes and processes of deterioration of historic sites and of a range of artifacts / decorative architectural surfaces / easel paintings;
- Describe and discuss the impact of environmental deterioration factors on historic sites and artifacts;
- Discuss the role of the condition assessment of cultural heritage sites and artifacts in establishing their conservation strategy.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Recognise and describe a number of deterioration phenomena and patterns in real case studies;
- Relate deterioration phenomena to basic properties of original materials and technology in real case studies;
- Identify the potential factors triggering such deterioration phenomena.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

Arnold, A. and Zehnder, K. 1991. Monitoring Wall Paintings Affected by Soluble Salts. In Cather, S. (Ed.) The Conservation of Wall Paintings. Proceedings of a symposium organized by the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Getty Conservation Institute, London, July 13-16, 1987. The Getty Conservation Institute: 103-135 (Available at Main Library General and at https://www.getty.edu/publications/virtuallibrary/089236162X.html)
CCI Notes 10/4 2017 Environmental Guidelines for Paintings https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/environmental-display-guidelines-paintings.html
Dorge, V. and Carey Howlett, F. 1998. Painted Wood: History and Conservation. Getty Conservation Institute (Available at Bighi Library General and at https://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/pdf_publications/paintedwood.html)
Hill Stoner, J. and Rushfield, R. (Eds) 2012. Conservation of Easel Paintings. Routledge (Available at Main Library General)
Henri, A. and Stewart, J. (Eds) 2011. Practical Building Conservation: Mortars, Renders and Plasters. English Heritage (Available at Main Library General)
Odgers, D. and Henry, A. (Eds) 2012. Practical Building Conservation: Stone. English Heritage (Available at Main Library General)

Supplementary Readings:

Caneva, G, Nugari, M P, Salvadori, O. 1991. Biology in the conservation of works of art. International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property (Available at Bighi Library General)
Padfield, T., Conservation Physics at https://www.conservationphysics.org/

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Fieldwork, Ind Study, Lect, Tut & Online Learning

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Oral and Written Exercises (1 Hour and 30 Minutes) Yes 40%
Oral Examination (30 Minutes) Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S David-Frank Bugeja
Jo Ann Cassar
Roberta De Angelis
Chiara Pasian
Jennifer Porter

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit