Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microbial Community Present on the Reverse Side of a Deteriorated Canvas

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Microbial Biotechnology Approaches to Monuments of Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Cultural heritage makes the foundation of any nation. Culture includes melodies, music,  dance, theater, people conventions, performing expressions, ceremonies and customs, compositions, and artworks. Painting is a significant sort of art. Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color, or other medium to a solid surface. Paintings are made on different kinds of supports like paper, pastel, parchment, canvas, walls, and roofs of monuments. Paintings on canvas need canvas as support, a preparatory layer of vegetal or animal glues, a paint layer that includes the pigment and its binder (most commonly used is linseed oil), and finally a layer of varnish to protect the pigment layer. Different layers are composed of many organic and inorganic compounds. Biodeterioration is the alteration of organic and inorganic materials induced by the metabolic activity and growth of microorganisms. Paintings on canvas are prone to biodeterioration. Biodeteriogens secrete an array of aggressive metabolic products, viz., organic and inorganic acids, as well as hydrolytic enzymes that degrade the substratum. Fungi and bacteria are the major causes of biodeterioration of canvas paintings. Some of the cellulolytic fungal genera that degrade the canvas support are reported to involve one or more species: Aspergillus, Fusarium, Myrothecium, Memnoniella, Neurospora, Alternaria, Penicillium, Scopulariopsis, Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, and Stemphylium. On the other hand, bacteria include genera Bacillus and Staphylococcus. Genera like Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, Agrococcus, Janibacter, Rhodococcus, and Stenotrophomonas are cultured and isolated on artificial media from the deteriorated canvas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Albertano P, Moscone D, Palleschi G, Hermosin B, Saiz-Jimenez C, Sanchez-Moral S, Hernandez-Marine M, Urzi C, Groth I, Schroeckh V, Saarela M, Mattila-Sandholm T, Gallon JR, Graziottin F, Bisconti F, Giuliani R (2003) Cyanobacteria attack rocks (CATS): control and preventive strategies to avoid damage caused by cyanobacteria and associated microorganisms in Roman hypogean monuments. In: Saiz-Jimenez C (ed) Molecular biology and cultural heritage. Balkema, Lisse

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander M (1981) Biodegradation of chemicals of environmental concern. Science 211:132–138

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caneva G, Nugari MP, Salvadori O (1991) Environmental factors in biodeterioration. In: Caneva G, Nugari MP, Salvadori O (eds) Biology in the conservation of works of art. ICCROM—Sintesi Grafica s.r.l, Rome, pp 3–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Caneva G, Nugari MP, Salvadori O (2002) La Biología de la restauración. Ed: Nerea SA, Espana. ISBN: 8489569487

    Google Scholar 

  • Capodicasa S, Fedi S, Porcelli AM, Zannoni D (2010) The microbial community dwelling on a biodeteriorated 16th century painting. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 64:727–733

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caselli E, Pancaldi S, Baldisserotto C, Petrucci F, Impallaria A, Volpe L, D’Accolti M, Soffritti I, Coccagna M, Sassu G (2018) Characterization of biodegradation in a 17th century easel painting and potential for a biological approach. PLoS One 13:e0207630

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ciferri O (1999) Microbial degradation of paintings. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:879–885

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dhawan S, Agrawal OP (1986) Fungal flora of miniature paintings and lithographs. Int Biodeterior Bull 22:95–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Carlo E, Barresi G, Palla F (2017) Biodeterioration. In: Palla F, Barresi G (eds) Biotechnology and conservation of cultural heritage. Springer, Cham, pp 1–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallo F (1985) Biological factors in deterioration of paper. Rome: ICCROM

    Google Scholar 

  • Garg KL, Jain KK, Mishra A (1995) Role of fungi in the deterioration of wall paintings. Sci Total Environ 167:255–271

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez JM, Saiz-Jimenez C (2005) Application of molecular nucleic acid-based techniques for the study of microbial communities in monuments and artworks. Int Microbiol 8:189–194

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorbushina AA, Heyrman J, Dorniedena T, Gonzalez-Delvalle M, Krumbein WE, Laiz L (2004) Bacterial and fungal diversity and biodeterioration problems in mural painting environments of St. Martins church (Greene–Kreiensen, Germany). Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 53:13–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Guglielminetti M, De Giuli Morghen C, Radaelli A, Bistoni F, Carruba G, Spera G (1994) Mycological and ultrastructural studies to evaluate biodeterioration of mural paintings. Detection of fungi and mites in Frescos of the monastery of St Damian in Assisi. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 33:69–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch P, Eckhardt FEW, Palmer RJ Jr (1995) Fungi active in weathering of rock and stone monuments. Can J Bot 73:S1384–S1390

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann L (2002) Caves and other low-light environments: aerophytic photoautotrophic microorganisms. In: Bitton G (ed) Encyclopedia of environmental microbiology. John Wiley, New York, pp 835–843

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamanos Y (1997) Endo-IV-acetyl-P-D-glucosaminidases and their potential substrates: structure/function relationships. Res Microbiol 148:661–671

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kauffmann MJ (1952) Rôle des bactéries nitrificantes dans l’altération des pierres calcaires des monuments. Competes Rendus Acad Sci 234:2395–2397

    Google Scholar 

  • La Placa M (2005) Principi di microbiologia medica. Esculapio Editore, Bologna, Italy

    Google Scholar 

  • Laiz L, Pinar G, Lubitz W, Saiz-Jimenez C (2003) Monitoring the colonisation of monuments by bacteria: cultivation versus molecular methods. Environ Microbiol 5:72–74

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamenti G, Tomaselli L, Tiano P (2003) Cyanobacteria and biodeterioration of monumental stones. In: Saiz-Jimenez C (ed) Molecular biology and cultural heritage. Balkema, Lisse, pp 73–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonardi R (2005) Nuclear physics and painting: sub-topic of the wide and fascinating field of science and art. Nucl Phys A 752:659–674

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Miras M, Pinar G, Romero-Noguera J, Bolivar-Galiano FC, Ettenauer J, Sterflinger K (2013a) Microbial communities adhering to the obverse and reverse sides of an oil painting on canvas: identification and evaluation of their biodegradative potential. Aerobiologia 29:301–314

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Miras MDM, Martın-Sanchez I, Yebra-Rodrıguez A, Romero-Noguera J, Bolıvar-Galiano F, Ettenauer J (2013b) Contribution of the microbial communities detected on an oil painting on canvas to its biodeterioration. PLoS One 8:e80198

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Makies F (1981) Enzymatic consolidation of paintings. ICOM Committee for Conservation. 6th Triennal Meeting. Ottawa, 21–25 September 1981. Preprints. ICOM. 81/2/7-1–7n, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Matteini M, Mazzeo R (2009) Structure of panel and canvas paintings. In: Pinna D, Galeotti M, Mazzeo R (eds) Scientific examination for the investigation of paintings, a handbook for conservator-restorers. Firenze, Centro Di, pp 11–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Mihajlovski A, Gabarre A, Seyer D, Bousta F, Di Martino P (2017) Bacterial diversity on rock surface of the ruined part of a French historic monument: the Chaalis abbey. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 120:161–169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nuhoglu Y, Oguz E, Uslu H, Ozbek A, Ipekoglu B, Ocak I, Hasenekoglu I (2006) The accelerating effects of the microorganisms on biodeterioration of stone monuments under air pollution and continental-cold climatic conditions in Erzurum, Turkey. Sci Total Environ 364:272–283

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Onions AHS, Allsop D, Eggins HOW (1981) Smith’s introduction to industrial mycology, 7th edn. Edward Arnold, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavic A, Ilic-Tomic T, Pacevski A, Nedeljkovic T, Vasiljevic B, Moric I (2015) Diversity and biodeteriorative potential of bacterial isolates from deteriorated modern combined-technique canvas painting. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 97:40–50

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pellerito C, Di Marco AE, Di Natale MC, Pignataro B, Scopelliti M, Sebastianelli M (2016) Scientific studies for the restoration of a wood painting of the Galleria Interdisciplinare Regionale della Sicilia-Palazzo Mirto di Palermo. Microchem J 124:682–692

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson K, Klocke J (2012) Understanding the deterioration of paintings by microorganisms and insects. In: Stoner JH, Rushfield R (eds) Conservation of easel paintings. Routledge, New York, pp 693–709

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinar G, Ramos C, Rolleke S, Schabereiter-Gurtner C, Vybiral D, Lubitz W (2001) Detection of indigenous Halobacillus populations in damaged ancient wall paintings and building materials: molecular monitoring and cultivation. Appl Environ Microbiol 67:4891–4895

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pinna D, Salvadori O (2008) Processes of biodeterioration: general mechanisms. In: Caneva G, Nugari MP, Salvadori O (eds) Plant biology for cultural heritage: biodeterioration and conservation. The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, pp 15–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Poyatos F, Morales F, Nicholsen AW, Giordano A (2017) Physiology of biodeterioration on canvas paintings: physiology and biodeterioration. J Cell Physiol 233:2741

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radaelli A, Paganini M, Basavecchia V, Elli V, Neri M, Zanotto C (2004) Identification, molecular biotyping and ultrastructural studies of bacterial communities isolated from two damaged frescoes of St Damian’s Monastery in Assisi. Lett Appl Microbiol 38:447–453

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ranalli G, Zanardini E, Sorlini C (2009) Biodeterioration—including cultural heritage. In: Schaechter M (ed) Encyclopedia of microbiology. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 191–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravikumar HR, Rao SS, Karigar CS (2012) Biodegradation of paints: a current status. Indian J Sci Technol 5:1977–1987

    Google Scholar 

  • Roldan M, Clavero E, Castel S, Hernandez-Marine M (2004) Biofilms fluorescence and image analysis in hypogean monuments research. Algologic Stud 111(1):127–143. https://doi.org/10.1127/1864-1318/2004/0111-0127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosado T, Silva M, Dias L, Candeias A, Gil M, Mirao J (2017) Microorganisms and the integrated conservation-intervention process of the renaissance mural paintings from Casas Pintadasin Evora—know to act, act to preserve. J King Saud Univ Sci 29:478–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose AH (1981) Microbial biodeterioration. In: Economic microbiology. Academic Press, Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubio RF, Bolivar FC (1997) Preliminary study on the biodeterioration of canvas paintings from the seventeenth century by Microchiroptera. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 40:161–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Saiz-Jimenez C (1993) Deposition of airborne organic pollutants on historic buildings. Atmos Environ 27:77–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvador C, Bordalo R, Silva M, Rosado T, Candeias A, Caldeira AT (2017) On the conservation of easel paintings: evaluation of microbial contamination and artists materials. Appl Phys A Mater Sci Process 123:80

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampa S, Luppi Mosca AM (1989) A study of the fungi occurring on 15th century frescoes in Florence, Italy. Int Biodeterior 25:343–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos A, Cerrada A, Garcia S, San Andres M, Abrusci C, Marquina D (2009) Application of molecular techniques to the elucidation of the microbial community structure of antique paintings. Microb Ecol 58:692e702

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassu G, Cappelletti F, Ghelfi B (2017) Carlo Bononi. L’ultimo sognatore dell’Officina ferrarese, 1st edn. Fondazione Ferrara Arte, Ferrara

    Google Scholar 

  • Schabereiter-Gurtner C, Pinar G, Lubitz W, Rolleke S (2001) An advanced strategy to identify bacterial communities on art objects. J Microbiol Methods 45:77–87

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soffritti I, D’Accolti M, Lanzoni L, Volta A, Bisi M, Mazzacane S, Caselli E (2019) The potential use of microorganisms as restorative agents: an update. Sustainability 11:3853

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soliman NA, Knoll M, Abdel-Fattah YR, Schmid RD, Lange S (2007) Molecular cloning and characterization of thermo stable esterase and lipase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans YN isolated from desert soil in Egypt. Process Biochem 42:1090–1100

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Souza-Egipsy V, Wierzchos J, Sancho C, Belmonte A, Ascaso C (2004) Role of biological soil crust cover in bioweathering and protection of sandstone in semi-arid landscape (Torrollones de Gabarda, Huesca, Spain). Earth Surf Process Land 29(13):1651–1661. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stulik D, Paint (2000) In: Taft WSJ, Mayer JW (eds) The science of paintings. Springer, New York, pp 12–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Suihko ML, Alakom HL, Gorbushina A, Fortune I, Marquard J, Saarela M (2007) Characterization of aerobic bacterial and fungal microbiota on surfaces of historic Scottish monuments. Syst Appl Microbiol 30:494–508

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taft WSJ, Mayer JW (2000) The structure and analysis of paintings. In: Taft WSJ, Mayer JW (eds) The science of paintings. Springer, New York, pp 1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiano P (2002) Biodegradationof cultural heritage: decay mechanisms and control methods “9th ARIADNE Workshop” historic material and their diagnostic, ARCCHIP, Prague, 22–28 April 2002. http://www.arcchip.cz/w09/w09_tiano.pdf

  • Urzì C, Krumbein WE (1994) Microbiological impacts on the cultural heritage. In: Krumbein WE, Brimblecombe P, Cosgrove DE, Stainforth S (eds) Durability and change: The Science, Responsability and Cost of Sustaining Cultural Heritage. John Wiley & Son, Chichester, pp 107–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Videla HA, Guiamet PS, De Saravia SG (2000) Biodeterioration of Mayan archaeological sites in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 46:335–341

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner E, Schwartz W (1965) Geomikrobiologische Untersuchungen. IV Untersuchungen über die mikrobielle Verwitterung von Kalkstein im Karst. Z Allg Mikrobiol 5(1):52–76. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.19650050108

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Shaheed Mangal Pandey Govt Girls PG College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Sushil Kumar

  2. Department of Botany, Government Girls Degree College, Kharkhauda, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Priyanka

  3. Department of Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India

    Upendra Kumar

Authors
  1. Sushil Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Priyanka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Upendra Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Eternal University, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India

    Ajar Nath Yadav

  2. Department of Molecular & Cell Biochemistry, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

    Ali Asghar Rastegari

  3. Department of Chemistry & Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia

    Vijai Kumar Gupta

  4. Gopi Nath P.G. College, Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Neelam Yadav

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Kumar, S., Priyanka, Kumar, U. (2020). Microbial Community Present on the Reverse Side of a Deteriorated Canvas. In: Yadav, A., Rastegari, A., Gupta, V., Yadav, N. (eds) Microbial Biotechnology Approaches to Monuments of Cultural Heritage. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3401-0_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation