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Museum Artwork Sustainable Technology for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Enhancement

Project description

Revolutionising art conservation with smart climate control

Medieval and Renaissance panel paintings are at risk from hygrothermal climate changes. These environmental changes cause the wood to expand and contract, leading to potential cracks and damage. Traditional museum climate control systems help, but they are expensive and consume a lot of energy. The challenge is how to protect these treasures in a sustainable way. The MASTERPIECE project, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, offers a smart solution. It combines energy-efficient climate control with advanced digital modelling to create digital twins of the paintings. These replicas predict how artworks will react to environmental changes, helping museums to better protect them. By balancing preservation and sustainability, MASTERPIECE aims to set new standards in the conservation of wooden cultural heritage.

Objective

The MASTERPIECE project aims to create a transformative change in the conservation of Wooden Panel Paintings (WPPs) from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, integral to our shared cultural heritage. These artworks are susceptible to environmental conditions like humidity and temperature fluctuations, challenging traditional conservation methods. The project proposes an innovative approach by integrating energy-efficient climate control and advanced digital modeling to optimize both preservation and sustainability.

Traditional climate control systems in museums contribute to an unsustainable energy footprint. MASTERPIECE addresses this by using adaptive climate control strategies that take into account the unique needs of each artwork. Through collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), a leader in art conservation, the project will develop 'digital twins'—digital replicas that simulate the artworks' hygro-mechanical behavior in real-time.

Rather than focusing solely on vulnerability, MASTERPIECE introduces the concept of resilience through 'fragility-resilience curves.' These curves enable a nuanced understanding of how artworks respond to environmental stressors, informing targeted and effective conservation strategies that harmonize with energy efficiency goals.

The project will unfold in two key phases. The first phase at the GCI will focus on creating the digital twins and fragility-resilience curves. The second phase will conduct mechanical characterization tests on historical paintings to validate and refine these models, ensuring their broader applicability and impact.

MASTERPIECE aims to redefine standards in art conservation by offering an interdisciplinary solution that harmonizes the need for energy-efficient practices with effective long-term preservation. By integrating advanced technologies with conservation science, MASTERPIECE aspires to make a lasting, positive impact on global art preservation strategies.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 288 859,20
Address
Piazza San Marco 4
50121 Florence
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Toscana Firenze
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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