Capabilities of the up-to-date research equipment used for work with pieces of arts and solution methods of the problems connected with preservation of cultural values were demonstrated at the seminars held in the State Research Institute for Restoration.
The first one was called “Digital and Optical Methods of Visual Research of Cultural Monuments”. Microscopic study is the safest research method for works of art: the quality of work and objectivity of conclusions that are extremely important for scientific restoration directly depend on the capabilities of high-tech equipment. The scholars considered application of new device models - stereo microscopes, a digital portable inspection system, a computer vision system, endoscopes, and a digital video microscope. The largest museums and research centres all over the world use this equipment. As for Russia, it is applied only in the State Hermitage.
The second seminar - “Modern Technologies in Preventive Conservation” – was about the conditions of preservation of cultural values, such as molecular air purification, microbiological air monitoring in the museums, preservation of exhibits on paper mediums within the climatic limits, modern experience of preservation of ancient icons in the functional churches, control systems of temperature and humidity conditions in the museums and architectural monuments.
Reports were given by the leading climatologists of the State Research Institute for Restoration who had participated in the provision of preservation conditions of cultural values both in small museums of the district centres of Russia and in such sites as the Moscow Kremlin Museums, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Museum of Dionisy’s and others.
The audience consisting of employees of the largest Russian museums, restorers, museum specialists, custodians and experts of cultural heritage underlined the topicality of the seminars organized by the State Research Institute for Restoration.
