Diagnostics

Before any conservation treatment begins, a rigorous diagnostic phase establishes the nature and condition of the materials to be preserved. This may include stratigraphic analysis to map the sequence of paint and plaster layers, material characterisation using laboratory and in-situ techniques, and non-destructive testing methods — such as infrared reflectography, ultraviolet fluorescence, and micro-drilling — that reveal subsurface conditions without causing further damage to vulnerable surfaces.

The results inform a treatment proposal grounded in evidence rather than assumption, enabling conservators to distinguish between stable original material, past interventions, and active deterioration processes. Diagnostic documentation produced at this stage becomes part of the intervention record, ensuring that future conservators have access to a reliable baseline for any subsequent campaigns.