Next Article in Journal
Identifying Pre-Existing Ballistic Trauma in Burnt Bone
Previous Article in Journal
The Interior Restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris (1845–1869): A Historical Study for an Architectural and Acoustic Reconstruction
Previous Article in Special Issue
Sustainability of Managing Archaeological Iron Collections
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Heritage
Volume 8
Issue 12
10.3390/heritage8120526
heritage-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Unfavorable Relative Humidity as a Cause of Deterioration–Risk Assessment for the Humidification of a Medieval Polychromed Wooden Panel in Historic Context

by
Theresa Hilger
1,*,
Kristina Holl
2,3,
Manuela Hörmann
1,4,
Leander Pallas
2,
Julia Brandt
1 and
Paul Bellendorf
2,*
1
Department of Restoration, Preventive Conservation, Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (BLfD), Hofgraben 4, 80539 Munich, Germany
2
Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies, Materials and Preservation Science, Otto-Friedrich University (KDWT), Am Zwinger 6, 96047 Bamberg, Germany
3
Department 83.3 Restoration, Building and Art Monument Preservation, State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Baden-Württemberg (LAD), Berliner Str. 12, 73728 Esslingen am Neckar, Germany
4
Department of Collection Management, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, 5020 Bergen, Norway
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Heritage 2025, 8(12), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120526
Submission received: 30 September 2025 / Revised: 28 November 2025 / Accepted: 3 December 2025 / Published: 12 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for the Sustainable Conservation of Cultural Heritage)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on the large-format wooden panel painting Maundy Thursday Altarpiece from Southern Germany. Its wooden support and paint layer were severely damaged due to high climatic fluctuations, above all dryness. The aim of the research project was to develop a low-risk, conservatively acceptable procedure for controlled in situ humidification. In an interdisciplinary approach, a practical monitoring concept on-site was linked to art technology analyses, surface monitoring, hygrothermal simulations, and climate chamber tests. Based on the results, an individual climate corridor for controlled humidification of the case study was developed with the help of an enclosure and implemented in two gradual moistening phases. The combination of conservative support, measurement technology, and digital assessment allowed a controlled approach to a conservation optimum without other active interventions in the original material. The results highlight the need for object-specific strategies and humidity corridors at the interface between conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainability. A deviation from museum standard recommendations (depending on the guidelines 40–60% rH) shows the special challenges of monument preservation.
Keywords: wooden panel painting; climate change; in situ humidification; conservative monitoring; sustainable climate corridor; cultural heritage preservation; conservation; structured light scanning; climate chamber testing; hygrothermal simulation wooden panel painting; climate change; in situ humidification; conservative monitoring; sustainable climate corridor; cultural heritage preservation; conservation; structured light scanning; climate chamber testing; hygrothermal simulation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Hilger, T.; Holl, K.; Hörmann, M.; Pallas, L.; Brandt, J.; Bellendorf, P. Unfavorable Relative Humidity as a Cause of Deterioration–Risk Assessment for the Humidification of a Medieval Polychromed Wooden Panel in Historic Context. Heritage 2025, 8, 526. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120526

AMA Style

Hilger T, Holl K, Hörmann M, Pallas L, Brandt J, Bellendorf P. Unfavorable Relative Humidity as a Cause of Deterioration–Risk Assessment for the Humidification of a Medieval Polychromed Wooden Panel in Historic Context. Heritage. 2025; 8(12):526. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120526

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hilger, Theresa, Kristina Holl, Manuela Hörmann, Leander Pallas, Julia Brandt, and Paul Bellendorf. 2025. "Unfavorable Relative Humidity as a Cause of Deterioration–Risk Assessment for the Humidification of a Medieval Polychromed Wooden Panel in Historic Context" Heritage 8, no. 12: 526. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120526

APA Style

Hilger, T., Holl, K., Hörmann, M., Pallas, L., Brandt, J., & Bellendorf, P. (2025). Unfavorable Relative Humidity as a Cause of Deterioration–Risk Assessment for the Humidification of a Medieval Polychromed Wooden Panel in Historic Context. Heritage, 8(12), 526. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8120526

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop