D17mc24-CF-2017_Milano, Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, J. Ruffoni, Family tree of the Dukes of Mantua, inv. 247

Facilitated description:

 

The genealogical tree of the Dukes of Mantua is an engraving on paper. 
Engraving is the printing of an image from a matrix (metal image model). 
The engraving represents a tree with the names of the family of the dukes (noble family) of Mantua.
Jacopo Ruffoni made the engraving around 1652.
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 and stains. 
They filled the tears and holes with Japanese paper (very thin and light paper).
They have eliminated 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, preserved at the Ambrosiana Library, which involved the involvement of students in the training course on library, archival, parchment and photographic materials (degree course in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage).

Restoration

The intervention on Ruffoni's engraving began with dry cleaning with a brush, microaspirator and scalpel to remove surface deposits, followed by the contribution of moisture to reduce dark coloring. Subsequently, the folds were consolidated and the tears and gaps were compensated with Japanese paper and adhesive. The chromatic additions were made with previously dyed paper. Finally, a washing and drying with absorbent paper, non-acid cartons and the aid of a weight were carried out.