Project

WMF first approached the conservation of the cloister by analyzing the columns and capitals that form the cloister to determine the best methods for cleaning, repairing, and maintaining the structure. (...)

WMF first approached the conservation of the cloister by analyzing the columns and capitals that form the cloister to determine the best methods for cleaning, repairing, and maintaining the structure. In 2008, Laboratoire d’Etudes et de Recherche sur les Matériaux completed an extensive survey to determine the original colors of the stones in the cloister, their chemical composition, and the ways in which the aging of the stones affects the patina seen today. Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas carried out testing to determine if the sculpture of the capitals atop the columns can be cleaned with either UV or infrared laser technology. WMF has also partnered with CyArk to create laser scans of the cloister that will enable WMF to describe the conservation program through presentation of Web-based 3-D models in combination with drawings, high-resolution photography, and narrative descriptions of treatments employed. In 2011, following the completion of the scientific study and documentation work, the conservation of the cloister began.