A Herman Ottó Múzeum Évkönyve 20. (1981)

BÉCSI János– PINTÉR Attila: A szalonnai református templom falképeinek helyreállítása

A SZALONNAI REFORMÁTUS TEMPLOM FALKÉPEINEK HELYREÁLLÍTÁSA 71 RESTORATION OF WALL-PAINTINGS IN THE CALVINIST CHURCH OF SZALONNA The wall paintings of the Szalonna calvinist church were known as early as 1922. The restoration, however, made by László Bartha in 1951, was inefficient both in its method and its materials. The restoration has no documents whatever, only informations can be gained. Our work was hindered by the unknown materials used for the restoration and by the better adhesional characteristics of these materials than of the original painting. This problem, considerable in itself, was especially trying since the present restoration is needed due to the decay and discolouring of the conservation materials and the intotal complition of the former restoration contributing to the speedy diminution of the esthetic value of the wall painting. This aspect laid special emphasis on the preliminary scientific research to help the restorator's work, that, finally, yielded not only the esthetic outlook of the wall painting, but also added to the history of fine arts and of restoration. New results have been reached in the field of dating and periodisation, and also an uneflective conservation process could be detected to enrich, even as a negative result, the history of restoration. Bartha used salicyl solved in spirit or in some other organic solving material to prevent the spreading of the organisms. After putting on the salicyl sucked into the material, while later it set out on the surface, perhaps also in chemically changed form, where it formed an esthetically disturbing greyish-white film. János Bécsi—Attila Pintér