Simno bažnyčios altorių polichromijos tyrimai, konservavimo ir restauravimo darbai

LTStraipsnyje pristatomi Simno bažnyčios didžiojo altoriaus tyrimo, konservavimo bei restauravimo darbai ir šoninių altorių polichromijos tyrimų rezultatai. Pirminę didžiojo altoriaus restauravimo programą, parengtą 2012 m., teko keisti, nes pradėjus paviršių valymo darbus ir atidengus didesnius plotus paaiškėjo, kad žvalgomieji polichromijos tyrimai buvo akivaizdžiai nepakankami parinkti tinkamą restauravimo darbų koncepciją ir spalvinį sprendimą. Aptariama ardomųjų tyrimų atlikimą reglamentuojanti teisinė bazė, tyrimų apimties reglamentavimo trūkumas. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Simnas; Altorius; Polichromija; Tyrimai; Konservavimas; Restauravimas; Simnas; Altar; Polychromy; Studies; Conservation; Repair.

ENThe Simnas Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the oldest in the Užnemunė region. Its construction began in 1520. This church was damaged in multiple fires and wars, and subsequently underwent several rounds of renovation and reconstruction, but nevertheless it has maintained the spaces, forms and decorative elements characteristic of Renaissance architecture. An impressive ensemble consisting of the high altar, a baptistery, a little votive altar and a pulpit has survived until today. While the altars were rebuilt several times, they have maintained many valuable sculptures, carvings and paintings dating to the 18th century and onwards. In 2012, the condition of the presbytery interior, as well as the high altar and the side altars, was declared critical. The polychromy of the presbytery walls and the high altar was analysed in preparation to restore their colour scheme. The concept of restoring the altar’s colour scheme was conservative and intended to retain the original view of the altar as much as possible. Light brown and green pastel tones were mostly used in the project. In 2013, a program for the research, conservation and restoration of the high altar décor was approved. Between 2014 and 2016, the altar’s sculptures, tabernacle and the central painting were restored. The conservation and repair of the altar’s architectural elements took place between 2015 and 2017. As several layers of overpainting were uncovered revealing a larger surface area, there was a need to change the projected colour scheme for restoring the altar’s polychromy: it turned out that originally the altar had been decorated in colours imitating dark ashen-black marble and gilded. Based on this newly surfaced data, a new colour scheme was prepared, which drastically changed the view of the main altar. This article analyses the legal basis regulating polychromy research.In 2017–2018, research was conducted on the polychromy and gilding of the side altars, the baptistery, the little votive altar and the pulpit. The purpose of this research was not only to assess the physical condition of these objects, but also to establish if the décor of the side altars was similar to that of the high altar, to see what decoration technique was used, and what the original colour scheme was. It was established that the later polychromy of the high altar was similar to the decorative scheme of the side altars. The dominant decorative technique used in all these altars was a painted imitation of marble texture and abundant gilding, only the colours differed: the side altars were mainly painted in shades of brown, while the high altar – in ashen-black tones. The research, and repair and conservation of the altars at the Simnas Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary showed the significance of extensive polychromy studies and, in particular, of setting a sufficiently wide scope for them. The case of the high altar’s conservation project revealed that drastic changes are needed for the projects of restoring polychromy colour schemes when preliminary studies are too narrowly scoped. The results of initial exploratory research tend to be incomplete, failing to reveal the original colour composition. Thus, once the work gets started, extensive repeated polychromy research often turns out to be necessary, subsequently calling for either significant amendments to, or re-drafting of, colour scheme conservation projects based on this new data. This article concludes that the legal basis regulating polychromy research does not explicitly regulate its scope. The scoping decisions tend to fall upon researchers, based on the research goals set by the client. The current legal regulations are insufficient and ought to be more detailed. [From the publication]