World Monuments Fund first approached the conservation of the cloister in 2008 by analyzing its columns and capitals to determine the best methods for cleaning, repairing, and maintaining the structure. (...)
World Monuments Fund first approached the conservation of the cloister in 2008 by analyzing its columns and capitals to determine the best methods for cleaning, repairing, and maintaining the structure. WMF also partnered with CyArk to create laser scans of the cloister that would 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.
The project has provided opportunity for the exchange of ideas and technologies through international collaboration, as WMF and local authorities have worked with a wide range of international professionals to understand the needs of the site and develop a treatment program. Colleagues from France, the United States, Greece, and Germany have contributed to the scholarly and technical exchange that was required to understand the best treatment options.
In early 2012, following the completion of extensive scientific studies and documentation work, the conservation of the cloister began. On the exterior, the north and east gallery elevations were cleaned and restored, and the terrace pavers re-pointed. Inside the east gallery, the vault’s stone work and sculptures have also been cleaned and restored, and the site’s many columns are currently in the process of being laser-cleaned, a procedure that requires great sensitivity as it exposes the delicate marble surface conditions that exist beneath layers of accumulated soiling. Work will continue through 2013, focusing on the north, south, and west galleries.
