D17mc27-CF-2017_Milano, Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, A. Sadeler, Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, inv. 1430 s

Facilitated description:

 

The martyrdom of St. Sebastian is an engraving on paper. 
Engraving is the printing of an image from a matrix (metal image model). 
Aegidius Sadeler made the engraving in 1620-1629.
The engraving represents Saint Sebastian struck by arrows and some angels.
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, 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 on Sadeler's engraving began with dry cleaning with a brush and scalpel to eliminate surface deposits, followed by three washings in deionized water and the removal of adhesive residues with spatulas. Subsequently, the folds were consolidated and the tears and gaps were compensated with Japanese paper and adhesive. In addition, previous restoration works have been removed and chromatic additions have been 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.