A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNIQUE AND CONSERVATION-RESTORATION OF THE MURAL PAINTINGS FOUND ON THE CEILING OF THEODOR AMAN’S OFFICE, XIX^th CENTURY, THEODOR AMAN MUSEUM - BUCHAREST

Romeo GHEORGHIŢĂ (National University of Ats, Conservation ans Restoration Department, Bucharest)

The building, now known as the Theodor Aman Museum, is a historical moument built for the artist whose name it bears, being considered the first studio – home in the country. The building is very well preserved, being one of the few left who didn’t suffer alterations or degradations due to the passage of time. Theodor Aman created his home as a symbol for the art of painting. The buiding renders the ‘Belle Epoque’ atmosphere, being also the place where many of the artists’ works are displayed.

Each of the rooms is decorated in a different style and technique: mural painting, stained glass, painted decorations, moulding, wainscot, etc. – a typical manner during those times. For example, the ceiling of the artists’ office consists of two artistic elements: a) an oil painted surface – a geometric phytomorphic pattern and b) a scene depicting ‘A Triumph of Venus’, painted with oil on canvas and a rigid support. On the latter painting, the signature of the author can be observed: Th. Aman 1869 (the year of the building).

The opportunity of some conservation-restoration works made possible a close study of a few technological aspects of the paintings on the ceiling of Theodor Aman’s office. This study of the remarkable painting technique, together with the restoration solutions will be the subject of this presentation.