Conservation Problems of Wall Paintings Within the Architectural Heritage

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54338/27382656-2024.7-01

Keywords:

K‘obayr, Mastarà, Lmbatavank', Axt‘alà, Karmravor, Art‘ik

Abstract

The Armenian legislation is currently protecting and preserving architectural monuments, archaeological sites, and minors’ artistic forms of art like xač‘k‘ars. Unfortunately, there are several cases of precious wall paintings preserved inside religious buildings (Tat‘ev, Lmbatavank‘, K‘obayr, Mastarà) being damaged during architectural monument restoration. In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in study, conservation, and restoration of wall paintings in Armenian churches; however, there is one terrible reality to report: the neglect and abandonment of the protection and safeguarding of visible wall paintings for many bureaucratic and logistical reasons, as well as reasons for complete indifference for the destiny of the frescoes. A significant illustration of this negative attitude is the chapel of the Armenian monastery of K‘obayr. After many years of abandonment, the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport made a move and began a campaign of studies and restorations in collaboration with the Polytechnic of Milan, to restore the buildings and wall paintings. Restoration work on the K‘obayr chapel has been put on hold since 2013 due to inadequate administrative administration. As a result, the chapel's single nave's double-pitched roof, which is incomplete has remained exposed for the past 10 years, and rainwater infiltration formed a lovely part of the wall paintings. Our four years of endless reports and reminders have yielded nothing. The purpose of this article is to show once again, that the wall paintings in Armenian churches are historical monuments that must be safeguarded and are an inseparable key component of each existing church's monumental architectural heritage; consequently, they must be protected.

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Author Biography

Ara Zarian, Independent researcher

Architect (Italy, Mirano) - Independent researcher

References

A. Zarian, C. Lamoureux, The Restoration of Wall Paintings in Several Armenia Churchis of First Christian Age. Tigran Mets, Yerevan, 2019․

C․ Lamoureux, A․ Zarian, Haghbat - Restauro conservativo dei dipinti murali del secolo X, X-XIII nella chiesa del Santo Segno․ Tigran Mets, Yerevan, 2020.

A․ Zarian, C․ Lamoureux, Dadivank - La conservation-restauration des peintures murals datées 1297 dans l’église Kathoghike construite en 1214․ Tigran Mets, Yerevan, 2021.

S․ Ter-Nersesyan, Hay arvesty mijnadarum․ Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR, Yerevan, 1975 (in Armenian).

N․ Akinyan, Vrtanes vrd. Kertogh yev iwr yerkasirutiwnk, HA, 1910 (in Armenian).

K. Matevossyan, Haykakan vormnankarchutyun. gitakan hodvatsneri yev nyuteri zhoghovatsu. Tigran Mets, Yerevan, 2019 (in Armenian).

G. Casnati, Politecnico di Milano in Armenia, An Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Project for Restoration Training and Support to Local Institutions for the Preservation and Conservation of Armenian Heritage. OEMME Edizione, Venezia, 2014․

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Published

07/16/2024

How to Cite

Zarian, A. (2024). Conservation Problems of Wall Paintings Within the Architectural Heritage. Journal of Architectural and Engineering Research, 7, 3–21. https://doi.org/10.54338/27382656-2024.7-01

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Section

Articles