105-ML-2019_Turin, Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GAM), L. Mainolfi, La campana, inv. S-473

Facilitated description: 

 

The bell is a painted plaster sculpture formed by 5 pieces (4 at the base and 1 dome at the top). It represents a large red bell. Outside are carved on several bands scenes of ancient life and inside there are many drawings.
Luigi Mainolfi made the bell in 1978-1979.
The sculpture is kept at the Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GAM) in Turin.
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the sculpture in 2019 for a project funded by Intesa San Paolo.
Scientists have done scientific analysis to understand how the bell was built and decorated.
The restorers reinforced the base by covering the holes with stucco (plaster and glue).
They added zinc white to make the parts added with the restoration recognizable.
They reinforced the cracks with glue injections and cleaned the paint parts of the previous restorations.
To make it easier to move the work they created steel structures.

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

The restoration of The Bell of Mainolfi is part of the initiative of Intesa San Paolo "Restitutions. Restored art treasures 2022’, aimed at identifying Italian works in precarious conservation conditions and supporting their restoration and enhancement through an exhibition. For the 19th edition the exhibition was held at the Gallerie d'Italia in Naples (Italy).Fragility and strength. Antonello da Messina, Bellini, Carpaccio, Giulio Romano, Boccioni, Manet. 200 restored masterpieces, 21 May – 25 September 2022).

Restoration

The intervention was preceded by a diagnostic campaign that allowed to deepen the executive technique, the state of degradation and to highlight the engraved decorative elements of the interior. Specifically, investigations have been carried out on pigments and surface materials to identify previous interventions, carried out during the restoration or preparation and handling of the work. On the work was performed the consolidation of the base, particularly fragile, treating first the parts in canvas that came out and filling the gaps. These additions were made recognizable by the addition of zinc white, which has a different ultraviolet fluorescence. Subsequently, the cracks were consolidated with injections of synthetic adhesive and then grouted to uniform the surface. The retouching was then lightened to allow a unitary reading and reduce visual disturbance. During the restoration, steel structures were created to facilitate the movement of the self-supporting sails and adjust their position.

 

Bibliography

- E. Volpato, Sheet 86, in Returns 2022. Restored art treasures (catalogue), edited by C. Bertelli, G. Bonsanti, C. Di Francesci, Skira, Milan, 2022, pp. 330-333;
- M. Cardinali, The Bell by Luigi Mainolfi: treatment and prevention, in The 1980s: towards other horizons, vol. 3 proceedings of the Conference Energy lines (Turin, 16-17 May 2019), Kermes, 2020, pp. 93-98.