D17mc02-CF-2017_Milano, Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, H. Goltzius, Tantalo, inv. 457 d

Facilitated description:

 

Tantalus is an engraving on paper. 
Engraving is the printing of an image from a matrix (metal image model). 
Hendrik Goltius made the engraving in 1588. 
The engraving is kept at the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan and is part of the Pogliaghi collection. 
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the engraving in 2017. 
The restoration students participated in the restoration. 
The restorers cleaned the engraving of dust. 
They then used moisture to lighten the dark spots caused by water.
They filled the tears and holes with Japanese paper (very thin and light paper).
They removed the old restoration work.
The missing parts were covered with dyed paper.
In the end, they washed and dried the incision.
The restorers put the ininicision under some weights to eliminate the folds. 

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

The restoration was part of an ordinary teaching project on some engravings of the Pogliaghi Fund, kept at the Ambrosiana Library, which involved students in the training course on library, archival, parchment and photographic materials (degree course in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage).

Restoration

The intervention had as its objective the cleaning of the incision to eliminate the deposits (microaspiration and dusting with soft brushes) and the oxidized elements (input of moisture and suction table) that obscured the reading. Subsequently it was realized the consolidation of the folds and the compensation of the tears with Japanese paper and adhesive. The chromatic integration was carried out with previously dyed papers. Finally, a washing and drying with absorbent paper, non-acid cartons and the aid of a weight were carried out.