52-CR-2017_Agliè, Ducal Castle, Fountain of the four rivers

Facilitated description: 

 

The Fountain of the Four Rivers is a stone fountain.
The fountain represents marine animals and marine deities.
Ignatius and Filippo Collino made the statues of the fountain in 1764-1766. 
The fountain is kept in the garden of the Ducal Castle of Agliè. 
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the fountain in 2017. 
The restorers removed the plants grown above the fountain. 
They put a product against plant growth. 
They repaired the detached and ruined stone parts by inserting a new mortar (mix of lime and sand). 
They repositioned the stone decorations that had fallen off. 
The restorers reinforced the most damaged parts with metal nets.
The restoration students also participated in the restoration. 
The students cleaned and repaired the broken parts of the right sculptures. 

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention: 

 

Restoration

The restoration of the Fountain of the Four Rivers of the ducal castle of Agliè was carried out as part of a pilot project that involved the fourth span from the right of the scenic fifth of the fountain. In the preliminary phase, the executive technique and the state of conservation of the decorated surfaces were studied with the aim of defining the most suitable materials and intervention methods in relation to degradation phenomena. Photographs, mappings and diagnostic analyses were then carried out. Among the main degradations were detected biological presences (shrubs) and salts and decohesions of the part decorated with mursi (applications of stone of different sizes from the coarsely ovoid shape).
The intervention started by removing the plants at the top with biocide. The surface deposits (earth deposits, atmospheric particulates, vegetation, cobwebs, brick and mortar dust deposited on the protrusions due to the disintegration of bricks and plasters) were then removed with brushes and vacuum cleaner. The deposits and plants below the cornice were then removed and to restore continuity to the wall fabric, a new bedding was made between the bricks and hydraulic lime mortar was inserted. In addition, the mursi detached or at high risk of falling have been cataloged, removed from their headquarters, dusted and stored in cassettes. Subsequently, two of the gaps of greater extension in the upper right of the mirror were reintegrated, pivoting fiberglass nets with threaded bars in stainless steel and polyester resin to anchor the pins to the wall support. After securing the wall, the detached mursi were relocated. In the part without mursi decoration, unsuitable mortars have been eliminated, related to previous restorations, which stiffened the wall structure and salvage stuccos have been made in correspondence with the oldest plasters.

The right sculptural group of the fountain, depicting a newt with a carp on a boulder enriched with aquatic elements, has been restored as part of an educational project involving students of the degree course in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (sector PFP 1). This intervention involved the application of a biocidal product to stop the biological attack. We then proceeded with the dry removal of surface deposits and residues of mosses and lichens using brushes, brushes and vacuum cleaners. The stone surfaces were washed with demineralized water and toothbrushes in order to remove consistent deposits and residues of microorganisms present on the artifact. In addition, the no longer suitable mortars, related to previous conservation interventions, have been removed and replaced. They were then cleaned the leaks from the roots penetrated deep through the use of specils and pliers and jets of water. Subsequently the consolidations of the bagged parts were carried out (the head of the turtle, the nose and some fingers of the Triton, the fin of the carp, the head of the snake). The metal junction elements were treated with anti-rust. Finally, grouting was carried out to prevent the penetration of water.