The grand staircase of the University of Pavia: construction techniques and decay of stucco decorations

In the 2nd half of XVIII century, current Lombardy was part of the Holy Roman Empire and the University of Pavia was the only one in the region. During the reign Maria Theresa of Habsburg and of her son of Joseph II of Habsburg-Lorraine, Enlightenment ideas spread, and universities received new impetus and funding; university architecture had a significant impetus too, with a series of works designed by important architects (e.g. G. Piermarini and L. Pollach). However, only in 1819-23 a comprehensive plan for the expansion and improvement of the university's palace was implemented by Giuseppe Marchesi. The expansion of the palace required the design of a new monumental staircase, appropriate for the magnificence of the refurbished building. Despite the simplicity of a mature neoclassicism, the grand staircase has rich stucco ornaments. Walls are adorned with various cornices and deep niches with vaults decorated with stucco flowers. The large barrel vault has lacunars inside of which are large stucco flowers in high relief. About 20 years ago leakages from the roofing occurred and some of stuccos were severely damaged. To protect users a net was put below the vault and over years a number of stucco fragments gathered on it. A multidisciplinary research is currently ongoing on stuccos aiming at defining restoration work. The careful observation of intact flowers and of damaged ones allowed to understand manufacturing techniques; mineralogical analysis were done on fallen fragments and on small samples, allowing to understand the peculiar composition of the stucco and to characterize decay.