The conservation plan for Morosini fountain: an opportunity for reflection and redefinition of the norms
Abstract
The Morosini fountain is a Venetian monument located in Crete; it is a symbol for the city of Iraklio and the pride of the local society; it is a work of art, an enigma for historians and archaeologists, a tourist attraction, and a meeting point. But most of all, it is the bearer of a long history narrated by its patina. Our duty as conservators and our approach as members of a central public organisation, the Directorate for the Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, is to ensure and empower the continuation of this narrative.
Undertaking the task of planning the conservation strategy for the four stone lions and the reliefs with scenes from the sea world was the equivalent of one word: complexity. The monument’s preservation state lead the way; its location in an urban and marine environment and the previous interventions it has undergone, were determining to our approach; an approach based upon optimum documentation and understanding of its deterioration signs and mechanisms, towards the formation of several alternatives for long term sustainable conservation and management.
Our quests evolved around the three elements that define the fountain’s current state: the impact of water, the urban environment, and the interventions of the past. The project was developed in three axes: thorough documentation, analytical techniques, and historical and archival research on its history and past conservation. Collaboration with the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art of the University of West Attica assisted the Directorate’s commitment to an interdisciplinary approach to the conservation plan.
With this paper we wish to address the issues that we were engaged with during the project and our overall perspective, to highlight the dynamics of interdisciplinary collaborations for the purposes of conservation plans, and perhaps to insinuate a transposition in future priorities, approaches and norms of the conservation plans and the proposed solutions.
Article Details
- How to Cite
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Deli, M., & Mertzani, M. (2024). The conservation plan for Morosini fountain: an opportunity for reflection and redefinition of the norms. International Symposium on the Conservation of Monuments in the Mediterranean Basin, 217–228. https://doi.org/10.12681/monubasin.8320
- Section
- Part V - Natural and Anthropogenic Damage Hazards
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