The State Hermitage for the first time participated in Exhibition-Salon Restoration. Salon of Art Restoration and Conservation of Objects of Cultural Heritage in Ferrara

Exhibition-salon Restoration. Salon of Art restoration and Conservation of Objects of Cultural Heritage ("Restauro") is a large specialized exhibition , entirely dedicated to restoration and conservation of monuments of artistic, historical and architectural heritage. For the first time "Restauro" opened its doors for the visitors in 1991 and now it has become an annual event.

Within the crisscross year of "Italy-Russia" the Department of Scientific Restoration and Conservation of the State Hermitage for the first time participated in the 8th Exhibition-Salon, held from 27 March to 5 April, 2011 in Ferrara (Italy).

Two laboratories of the State Hermitage were introduced at the exhibition: the Laboratory of Scientific Restoration of Monumental Painting and the Laboratory of Scientific Restoration of Precious Metals.

Visitors took a great interest in diversity of monuments, undergoing restoration and conservation in the Laboratory of Scientific Restoration of Monumental Painting as well as to traditional methods which were developed by the laboratory specialists as early as in the mid of the 20th century and still remain their scientific applicability today.

During four days the salon worked master classes on laser cleaning and laser welding of special samples were held. All restoration processes were demonstrated in real-time mode on special monitors, connected to optical units of the laser machines. After the demonstration discussion of new restoration techniques, applied in the Hermitage took place. Restorers from Italy (Florence, Verona, Padua, Venice, Rome and Milan), Germany, the USA, Poland, Serbia and other countries showed a keen interest in the advanced technological developments.

Individually information on restoration of picture Lorenzo Lotto Madonna delle Grazie was presented.

Within the frames of the 8th Exhibition-Salon Restoration staff of the Department of Scientific Restoration and Conservation participated in the restoration conference where they introduced ten reports, raising a great interest of the audience.

Information materials of the Hermitage stand, telling about the work of the Department and its restoration laboratories, introducing the renewed masterpieces: pictures, sculptures, objects of applied art raised permanent interest of numerous visitors of the exhibition-salon. After presentation of restoration projects, master classes and reports of the staff of the Hermitage at the conference many Western restorers took interest in rules of training in the museum, young professionals in this sphere expressed a desire to receive training in its laboratories.

Four days of the salon were extremely saturated with the most diverse events for specialists - presentations of restoration projects and new technologies, conferences and workshops on the most acute issues of restoration and conservation, organized by museums, laboratories, companies and institutions, related to this sphere.

Stand of the State Hermitage at the exhibition

Visitors at the museum stand

Viktor Korobov, Svetlana Petrova and Tatyana Baranova introduce the Department of Scientific Restoration and Conservation

Igor Malkiel, Head of the Laboratory of Sciebtific Restoration of Precious Metals giving the master class

Irina Artemyeva Director of Scientific Center the Hermitage-Italy