Conservarea și restaurarea monumentului de for public „Domnița Bălașa”
Conservation and Restoration of "Princess Bălaşa" Public Monument

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents the intervention stages and materials used in the process of conservation and restoration of a public monument made of Carrara marble and dating to the 19th century. The interventions were carried out in the context of an extensive process of conservation, restoration, and enhancement of the historical monument "Brancovan Historical Site, Princess Bălaşa Church". Being a sculpture exposed to the outside environment, in the polluted atmosphere of Bucharest, the lithic support is permanently in a process of a continuous loss of its mass, which affects its perception, understanding, and initial aesthetic appearance. Thus, through this approach, it is pleaded for the need of stopping the degradation processes, such as the dissolution and superficial disintegration of the rock, as a result of which, over time, important three-dimensional details, decorations, insignia, or documentary inscriptions may disappear. In this respect, it is emphasized the role of consolidating substances to restore the cohesion between the particles that make up the rock and that contribute to the improvement of its mechanical resistance. Additionally, it is presented the influence of biodeterioration and inorganic coatings which, besides their destructive effect exerted on the support material, also has the effect of diminishing the visibility of the entire monument and its chromatic alteration, which leads to a significant decrease in its beauty. Therefore, this case study of the restoration of a monument located in the outer environment proposes a presentation of the methodology specific to the stone support, through effective and current treatment methods, without neglecting the importance and effect of the passage of time on the work of art.

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