In the part of the General Staff Building where works
are in progress service facilities of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Russian Empire as well as front rooms and residential
apartments of Minister were located. Their finishing was made
in the first third of the 19th century upon the project of
Carlo Rossi for Chancellor Karl Nesselrode.
In rooms of the Chancellor's apartment, generally preserved
their original decoration, careful scientific reconstruction
is conducted. In the front interiors plafonds' painting was
made in the mixed technique. Some figures were painted by
the artists in the workshop on a special delicate fabric -
mectal. Then painted fragments were stuck on the plafond.
Now for the first time in the whole history of the General
Staff Building they will be taken off and restored in the
workshop.
Simultaneously, reconstruction of molding in the rooms is
held. Preparatory restorers wash later layers they have to
remove 4 - 5 coats of paint.
A large volume of work has to be done by gilders. Earlier,
during redecoration works damaged areas of gilded parts of
architectural decoration or frames' molding were just covered
with bronze paint. In these places a golden layer is damaged
and it is necessary to put new gilding. On preliminary cleared
surface first coat - Levkas - is put, then some special compositions
and only after that - gold. The surface is polished with agate
(in old days wolf's fang was used). Mixed methods of gilding,
allowing achieving of as dead gold and full gloss are used.
On the walls of the corridor under the seven coats of oil
paint artificial marble was discovered. Chemical analysis
of the knock should detect how seriously the finishing has
been damaged for all these years.
The building gave another pleasant surprise to the restorers:
under the paint previously unknown paintings, most likely
made in the 20s of the 19th century were discovered. The decision
of their museumification was taken. Clearing of the painting
is in process now. So that unique paintings will not be damaged
during redecoration works they will be taken off the ceiling.
For this purpose a special method has been developed: firstly,
the painting is strengthened with sturgeon glue then it is
covered with nikolentnaya paper, a layer of cheesecloth, tissue
paper and finally, with foam plastic. After this the fragment
is taken out with a part of the ceiling. Restoration will
be conducted in stationary conditions - in the workshop.
A lot of work is ahead of the restorers. They do it carefully,
tediously with love to the beautiful building.
