San Gemini Preservation Studies 2025
Session 2: July 14 – August 8 (4 weeks)
Location: San Gemini, Italy

Program Information

This program aims to introduce students to the field of paper restoration and conservation in artworks and archival documents. The program involves both lectures in the classroom and practical workshops that impart theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field. The program is made up of two courses.

Students of the following subjects would find this program useful: book and paper conservation and restoration, art restoration, library science, library management, archival sciences, management of rare book collections, bookbinding, anthropology and history of technology.

Students participating in this program are required to take part in all courses and field projects in the program.

This program compliments Program C, Book Binding, in Session 1; students should consider taking both programs.

Field Projects Associated with this Program

Historic Archives of the Dioceses of Terni, Narni and Amelia
San Gemini Historic Archives Restoration
San Gemini Historic Archives Digitization

**Paper Media and Restoration Methods for Artworks**

Course 1
Instructor Melania Zanetti
SG 206A (3 Units)

Syllabus

This lecture and workshop course on the restoration of paper media aims to give an overview of the field, including instruction on the nature and history of paper, the traditional methods of paper making, the different artistic techniques, the processes of deterioration over time, and the various methods of handling and mounting, conservation and restoration of artworks on paper. Students learn the following: the material nature and the various typologies of paper (both traditional and new), the artistic techniques, the various agents and processes of deterioration and how they impact both paper and drawing media and the various methods of conservation and restoration to counteract them.

**Handwritten and Printed Archival Materials Restoration Methods**

Course 2
Instructor Melania Zanetti
SG 206B (3 Units)

Syllabus

The second course is a lecture and workshop where students focus on archival documents and original manuscript material from local historic archives (16th to 19th centuries), and learn their evolution in history. The following subjects are also treated or practiced: decoration of paper, dry cleaning, gentle or local washing, mending tears in paper, infilling loses, lining weak paper structures, deacidification, flattening, simple sewing and proper long-term conservation of archival materials. Students learn the following: the material nature and the various typologies of inks, writing, printing processes, the structure of archival bindings, the various agents and processes of deterioration of paper documents and how they impact both paper and bindings or cases and the various methods of conservation and restoration to counteract them.

Tuition

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