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Archival resources, a photogrammetric survey, analysis of materials and techniques, and evaluation of the state of conservation were interconnected phases in the interdisciplinary research on the perspective scenery of the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza. To fill existing gaps related to the history of this unique artefact and to the undocumented retouching of paint layers on the scenery during post-war reconstruction work, a broad analytical approach (optical microscopy, XRPD, SEM–EDX, μFTIR and μRaman) was applied to micro-samples, the selection of which was guided by consolidated geometrical and archival data. The aims were to obtain a characterisation of the pigments and binders and to evaluate the microstratigraphic sequence, the state of conservation of the scenery flats, and the deterioration processes involved. The findings unveiled a discernible variability in the production techniques of the finishes, frequently lacking the classic microstratigraphic sequence associated with the traditional method for painting on wooden panels from the sixteenth century. Moreover, by identifying many pigments that could be used as temporal markers we were able unequivocally to establish, for the first time, that a significant part of the scenery designed by the architect Vincenzo Scamozzi was heavily repainted in the post-WWII period. These analytical results and all the data collected on the artefacts over time were related through an HBIM model, enabling the historical and technical-analytical information to be linked to the geometrical survey and thus to provide guidance for actions based on current and future knowledge for the maintenance and monitoring of the Teatro Olimpico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barium hydroxide was one of the most widely used inorganic materials to consolidate calcareous stones during the 19th and 20th. The consolidation process occurs through a carbonation reaction. Several researchers studied the consolidation mechanism; however, the results are sometimes in conflict. More experimental work using modern analytical techniques and a multi-analytical approach is necessary to shed light on the mechanisms involved. This research aims to validate the chemical composition of the developed secondary products and to evaluate the treatment's effectiveness over time. Carrara marble and Vicenza white limestone were treated and subjected to natural, artificial, and biological weathering. Furthermore, only a few microsamples were collected from Venetian historical artifacts treated in the 1960s and 1970s. Microscopic observations, sponge tests, FTIR, SEM-EDX, and microbiological analyses investigated the stability of the treatment over time and ascertained the chemical composition of the acicular crystals developed from the carbonation reaction of barium hydroxide. The results prompted a number of considerations useful for future restorations and for developing innovative compounds for consolidation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]