FUNERARY MONUMENT OF ADMIRAL ANGELO EMO, CHURCH OF SAN BIAGIO AI FORNI.

Artistic Description:
This funerary monument is dedicated to Angelo Emo, celebrated as the last great operational commander of the Navy of the Republic of Venice and remembered for his naval campaigns in North Africa. Angel Emo was buried with great honors by his sailors in Venice in the demolished church of Santa Maria dei Servi. He was then moved in 1812 to the church of S. Martino, and then to the church of S. Biagio ai Forni, or dei Marinai in September 1818 where the funerary monument stands today. The monument was created in 1792 by Giovanni Ferrari (1744-1826) known as Torretto, the last of the well- known dynasty of sculptors and teacher of Antonio Canova. This work, signed on the bust “Opus Gio: Ferrari Toreti,” is considered by critics to be Toretto’s masterpiece and “one of the happiest creations of Venetian statuary of that time.”

State of Conservation:
The monument is in fair condition, however the presence of some phenomena of alteration and decay of the stone material requires interventions aimed at halting its progress to prevent compromise of the material and figurative content of the work. The exquisite sculpture depicting the Commander da Mar is made of Carrara marble using great skill. The artist successfully rendered minute clothing details and an emotive facial expression using chiaroscuro effects. However, these effects have been minimized due to the presence of incoherent or weakly incoherent deposits on the sculpture’s surface, as well as the presence of stains caused by the oxidation of the metal elements. The sarcophagus, made of pinkish Nembro marble (a yellow variety of Rosso ammonitico veronese), is in a worse state of conservation. Elements of the monument’s base and dossal, composed of Istrian stone and bardiglio marble, show evidence of disintegration, surface erosion and salt efflorescence.

Intervention Proposal:
Interventions, which can be better calibrated following closer inspection, for surfaces in good condition will involve the application of either a compresses of neutral thickener of polysaccharide nature (Agar) and distilled water, or of a deionized water solution with denatured alcohol, in order to reduce the contact angle of water and remove layers of dirt and greasy dust. The chosen method will depend on the extent and nature of the deposit to be removed. In the event that significantly consistent deposits are detected, we will proceed with the application of wadding swabs with aqueous solution containing solvent or possibly a neutral surfactant. The surface will then be rinsed with deionized water and, if needed, subsequent applications of Japanese paper soaked in deionized water will be applied. Discoloration of stone surfaces, caused by the oxidation of metal alterations, will be minimized by application of complex substances using cotton swab or brush. Phenomena of saline crystallization will be treated with repeated cycles of desalination by means of compresses with suitable supports, or absorbent paper tissues soaked in demineralized water. Once the crystalline component of efflorescence has been removed, tests will be carried out in order to identify the most appropriate and effective method of consolidation needed to restabilize the adhesion of stone materials affected by deter ioration and loss. Previous g routing will be carefully reviewed. Those made with unsuitable materials or that have lost their mechanical and aesthetic function will be replaced, while surface fractures will be filled with new microgrouting. All grout, whether previous or new, will be chromatically balanced to reduce contrast. In order to avoid alteration of the monument’s aesthetics, no protective coating will be applied.