At the initiative of our Company, conservation and restoration works have been carried out on the wall painting “Three Angels”, located on the ceiling of the Oval Salon in the renowned Škarka’s Villa managed by DIPOS and currently housing the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus. The works were undertaken by experts from the Institute for the protection of cultural monuments of Serbia.

The restoration was preceded by a detailed examination, as the entire painted surface had been covered with a yellowish layer of synthetic varnish. A layer of accumulated dirt was also found beneath the varnish, indicating that the surface had been re-varnished at a later stage without having been properly cleaned beforehand. This subsequent coating not only altered the original colour palette, but also caused a network of microcracks and, in places, resulted in the separation of the painted layer from its substrate. Some sections had lifted, cracked and were hanging from the ceiling.

Percussion testing and thermal imaging were carried out to assess the condition of the ceiling layers. Detached and lifted sections of the painted layer were consolidated, and the least invasive method for removing the varnish, without damaging the original paint layer, was determined. In the subsequent phases, substrate reintegration and retouching were carried out, followed by the application of a final protective coating.

The entire restoration was carried out by the expert team of the Institute for the protection of cultural monuments of Serbia headed by Vladimir Bulajić, MA, conservation-restoration advisor and project supervisor.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Republic Institute for its outstanding cooperation, through which yet another precious element of our cultural heritage has been preserved for future generations.

Photo: Institute for the protection of cultural monuments of Serbia