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The
lovely 7th-century basilica on the island
of Torcello, some six miles north of Venice,
was remodelled in the first years of the
11th century by Bishop Orso Orseolo, later
Patriarch of Aquileia; the mosaics were
added a little later, probably in the late
12th or early 13th centuries. The basilica
has long been threatened by rising damp.
A concerted international effort to study
and cure this problem, and if possible to
prevent a recurrence, was made between 1975
and 1985 by the specially-formed International
Torcello Committee chaired by Sir Ashley
Clarke. Italy's leading experts made careful
studies of the problems involved, before
recommending methods of preserving both
the building itself and its superb mosaic
decoration. Contributions totalling some
$400,000 came from twelve different sources,
including Britain, France, Germany, Italy
and the United States.
The damp had resulted in the loosening and
deterioration of individual tesserae, some
of which had actually fallen to the floor
below; moreover, large areas of the supporting
plasterwork were gradually becoming detached
from the walls. The first task was therefore
to repair the roof over the apse with its
incomparable mosaic of the Virgin and Child;
then the underlying water table was reduced;
the east and west walls were waterproofed.
Meanwhile, tests were made to determine
the best levels of humidity for the long-term
future of the building. A tuning-fork and
stethoscope were used to identify hidden
voids behind the mosaics, which were then
consolidated, first by fixing steel pins
and removable supports, and then by injecting
a mixture of lime, crushed marble and brick,
with a little acrylic resin, behind the
layer of plaster. All subsequent repairs
could thus be achieved without removing
a single tessera. The scenes of the Last
Judgement on the west wall were treated
in 1979-80; the Virgin and Child followed;
the frescoes in the apse and narthex were
completed in 1992-94; and the holy water
stoup and shrine in 1992-93.
DIRECTION OF WORKS: Superintendency for
the Environmental and Architectural Heritage
CONSERVATORS
Technical surveys: Prof.Paolo Mora, Prof.Giorgio
Torraca, Dott.Irina Andreescu
Mosaics: Mosaic restorers from San Marco,
Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro, Murano
Frescoes: Andrea Libralesso
Stoup and shrine: Emma Colle |
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