Ultraviolet allowed scientists to see the frescoes by Giotto

[Евгений]

Ultraviolet allowed scientists to see the Giotto frescoes in Florence's Basilica of Santa Croce, reports Reuters. Within the project, which took four months, restorers studied in detail the original frescos by Giotto, partially broken and filled by previous restorers.
As the agency explained the project coordinator, an employee of the restoration of the famous studio Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Frozinini Cecilia (Cecilia Frosinini), scientists were able to see the frescoes by Giotto in the form maximally close to the original. "Murals as if alive ... because we saw the distribution of UV light and shade, and found a three-dimensional images," - she said.

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Giotto painted the Basilica of Santa Croce in 1320-ies. According to experts, the artist used other than the usual technique - he painted on dry plaster, to achieve a better color reproduction. In early-1700's painting of Giotto was smeared whitewash, and only in 1840 and held whitewash rubbed restoration of frescoes.

Nevertheless, the restoration technique in the XIX century was rather primitive, so when you remove whitewash murals pretty hard hit. Restorers dorisovali missing parts and embellishing fragments to make them more visible to visitors of the basilica. In 1958, during the regular signs of restoration work of artists of the XIX century have been removed, and now Giotto's frescoes at Santa Croce in places are blurred, and their colors dimmed greatly as a result of all restorations.

Researchers note that the only way to see the frescoes in a form close to the original, remains their "illumination" by ultraviolet radiation. However, when subjected to radiation continuously murals, they may be damaged, so the usual visitors of the basilica will not be able to see them in full color.

As noted by the agency, one way still is - to reconstruct the full three-dimensional model of the basilica with all the murals, so that everyone could see it on their computer screen. This project, however, too expensive, and while the money to implement it at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure no.