Optimal Presentation of Ancient Art
Historical artifacts undergo a natural decomposition process throughout the ages, leading to the deformation of their initial image. For example, the sculpture “Tomb Relief of the Publius Gessius Family,” found in Italy and dated about 20-1 B.C., has some damages (Figure 1). The best way to present this sculpture would be in its current form with context and an example model of how it could have looked originally.
Preservation Versus Restoration: Balancing Integrity and Authenticity
Presenting works of art in their original and minimally restored way preserves the labor of the original creators and demonstrates their place in the history of humanity. By protecting the damage to the piece, the museum has a chance to show how the work of art survived and what events occurred in the place where it was discovered. Therefore, preservationists should focus on limited restoration that helps to clean up the piece and maintain its integrity.
Making the original artwork look new would remove any traces of history left on the sculpture and potentially erase the work of the original creators. In the case of this sculpture, minimal damage is a part of the historical process, and it demonstrates the passage of time and the actual techniques used in Italy.
Restoration with Distinct Materials or Leveraging Modern Technologies
A way to use contextual information would be to recreate the artwork using a different material, such as gypsum, on a smaller scale to show visitors how it could have looked in its own time. Another option would be to use technology to present the context and the recreation. For example, the museum may add an interactive screen near the sculpture that contains essential information and a 3D model of the recreated artwork. Projecting images onto the piece may also be an option that integrates technology while maintaining the original.
Reference
Tomb relief of the Publius Gessius family [Sculpture] (n.d.). Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, MS, United States. Web.
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