Francesca Piqué

Bio: Francesca Piqué is an academic researcher from SUPSI. The author has contributed to research in topics: Water content & Materials science. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 15 publications receiving 97 citations.

Mortars and plasters—how to manage mortars and plasters conservation

Abstract: The use of mortars and plasters has been widespread in many cultures for thousands of years and these materials are found in the vast majority of built cultural heritage. They play a crucial role in the preservation of immovable heritage and must be taken into great consideration when conserving historical buildings. Plasters and mortars have been extensively studied from a chemical and mineralogical point of view. The main causes and mechanisms of damage and deterioration are understood and various methods and materials have been developed for their preservation. Treatment development, testing and evaluation in the laboratory, under controlled conditions, has produced a high level of knowledge. However, there is a divergence between the results of academic-scientific studies and practice in the field. Laboratory studies typically tackle only a few variables at the time and the results cannot always be directly applied to address the complex problems that restorers face in their daily work practice. In addition, in situ conservation-restoration is extremely challenging because many of large number of variables involved cannot be controlled or modified. Following a description of the ideal “value-based” conservation process, this compilation work discusses aspects related to understanding deterioration mechanisms and planning of preventive and remedial interventions in a way that may be useful to update conservators-restorers on the status of scientific research in this field, and to guide conservation-scientists to identify unresolved issues, which require future research efforts.

Organic materials in wall paintings: the historical and analytical literature

Abstract: Among the materials within the complex matrix of wall paintings, organic materials are the most prone to deterioration. Deterioration is dependent on environmental factors but can also be related to treatments that adversely affect the organic components. Although it is current practice to carry out scientific investigations prior to conservation, it remains a challenging task to identify the organic materials in wall paintings and to understand the ways in which other components and contaminants interfere with their identification. To aid future study and to improve conservation treatments, historical and analytical information on organic materials in wall paintings has been collected and tabulated. The historical literature has been reviewed, looking at types of materials and their preparation methods as described in manuscripts, treatises and manuals. A review of the analytical literature has been carried out to determine which types of organic materials have been identified, while recording th...

Injection Grouts for the Re-Attachment of Architectural Surfaces with Historic Value—Measures to Improve the Properties of Hydrated Lime Grouts in Slovenia

Abstract: In the described studies with the aim of optimizing hydrated lime grout composition, the first measure was to reduce the water content of the grout using a highly efficient polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizer, whereas the second measure was to increase the content of the inert limestone filler with an adequate grain size distribution. In this way, an attempt was made to achieve the best possible volume stability and strength properties of the hydrated lime grout, while continuing to fulfill the other necessary requirements regarding non-structural grouting works which are reported in the literature.The results of the tests showed that a non-structural grout consisting of 1 volume part of hydrated lime CL 90-S and 3 volume parts of inert limestone filler, with 0.5% of the polycarboxylate ether based superplasticizer, fulfilled most of the established requirements, so that it is thus potentially suitable for re-attachment interventions on architectural surfaces.

Technical study of Germolles’ wall paintings: the input of imaging technique

Abstract: The Château de Germolles is one of the rare palace in France dating from the 14 th century. The noble floor is decorated with wall paintings that are a unique example of courtly love spirit that infused the princely courts of the time. After being concealed sometime in the 19 th century, the paintings were rediscovered and uncovered in the middle of the 20 th century and partly restored at the end of the 1990s. No scientific documentation accompanied these interventions and important questions, such as the level of authenticity of the mural decorations and the original painting technique(s) used in the medieval times remained unanswered. The combined scientific and financial supports of COSCH Cost Action and DRAC-Burgundy enabled to study Germolles’ wall paintings using some of the most innovative imaging and analytical techniques and to address some of the questions raised. The study provided significant information on the material used in the medieval times and on the conservation condition of the paintings. The data collected is vast and varied and exposed the owners of the property to the challenges of data management.

Non-invasive identification of organic materials in wall paintings by fiber optic reflectance infrared spectroscopy: a statistical multivariate approach

Abstract: The aim of this study is to develop a method for the non-invasive and in situ identification of organic binders in wall paintings by fiber optic mid-FTIR reflectance spectroscopy. The non-invasive point analysis methodology was set-up working on a wide set of wall painting replicas of known composition and using statistical multivariate methods, in particular principal component analysis (PCA), for the interpretation, understanding, and management of data acquired with reflectance mid-FTIR spectroscopy. Results show that PCA can be helpful in managing and preliminary sorting of the large amount of spectra typically collected during non-invasive measurement campaigns and highlight further avenues for research. The developed PCA model was finally applied to the case of a Renaissance wall painting by Perugino assessing it predictability as compared to the interpretation of the single spectrum.

Power by design Architecture and politics in precolonial Dahomey

Abstract: This article examines the role of royal architectural design in strategies to promote political order in the Kingdom of Dahomey, a major West African state which emerged in the era of the transAtla...

Analysis and comparison of the microflora isolated from fresco surface and from surrounding air environment through molecular and biodegradative assays

Abstract: The aim of this study was to find a correlation among the environmental isolated microflora and the fresco colonizators through the investigation of their biodegradative abilities and DNA characteristics. A molecular technique named RAMP (Random Amplified Microsatellite Polymorphisms) was utilized in order to analyze the DNA diversity of bacterial and fungal species isolated from fresco as well as from air samples. The RAMP-PCR results were combined with the screening of some biodegradative properties obtained through the use of specific agar plate assays detecting the proteolytic, solubilization and biomineralization abilities of the isolated microflora. This comparative analysis showed that only in few cases a direct link among the fresco and airborne isolates of specific microbial group existed. The investigation clearly evidenced that colonization of surface of Ladislav’s fresco occurred in different time and by different strains than those observed at the moment of sampling campaign. Furthermore, the microflora investigation permitted the identification of taxonomically interesting bacteria with particular biodegradative properties, which had been less studied until now.