Gelati Wall Painting Conservation Program

Wall Painting

Gelati Wall Painting Conservation Programme

Conservation of Wall Paintings in the Gelati Monastic Complex The Gelati Monastic Complex consists of multiple structures. Wall paintings are present in the main space and annexes of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, as well as in the main space and annex of the Church of St. George. Fragmentary remains of wall paintings can also be found in the Gate of David (South Gate) and the Church of St. Nicholas. One of the main objectives of the Gelati Rehabilitation Committee is the protection and conservation of the wall paintings within the monastic complex. The conservation po...

Gelati Wall Painting Treatment Programme at the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary continues

Since Spring 2025, the Gelati Wall Painting Treatment Programme at the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary has resumed following the winter break. The remedial treatment programme, developed since March 2024, includes the stabilisation of critical areas, general consolidation works, and the development of additional treatment methodologies. The treatments are based on scientific research and diagnostic studies of the wall paintings, including analyses of biological factors, salt presence, and environmental conditions. In parallel with ongoing research, the remedial treatment progra...

Gelati Monastery Complex, The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Entrances and Chapels, Wall Painting Technology and Condition Assessment & Documentation, September-December 2024

Remedial treatments were carried out from September to December 2024 as part of the conservation work on the wall paintings of the Gelati Monastery Complex; in parallel, wall painting survey,  condition, and salt monitoring continued throughout the space. 1) Remedial treatments carried out in July-December 2024 Gelati Monastery Complex, Wall Painting Conservation Program, Remedial treatment Report, December 2024 Gelati Monastery Complex, Wall Painting Conservation Programme, Graphical Documentation of wall painting Treatments, December 2024 2) Survey of the Wall...

Gelati Wall Painting Conservation Programme Summary 2023 - 2024

Summary of wall painting conservation activities carried out by the Gelati Rehabilitation Temporary Committee from spring 2023 to 2024: Link Technical summary of the 2023-2024 wall painting conservation programme results for the main space of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary of the Gelati Monastery Complex, which includes archival materials, diagnostic and analytical studies, environmental monitoring, and remedial treatments. Link ...

Gelati wall painting conservation, July - August 2024

Gelati Wall Painting Conservation Programme Continues: During the mission undertaken in July - August 2024, the following activities were carried out: The second phase of the wall painting remedial treatment, which included the development of treatment strategies and methodologies. Stabilisation of critical areas. Remedial treatment report, Phase 2  Wall painting and condition monitoring    Professor Steffen Laue, University of Applied Sciences Potsdam undertook the second phase of salt and plaster material investigations Gelati monastery co...

Wall Painting Conservation Programme, May 2024

Works carried out within the framework of the May 2024 mission for the conservation of the wall paintings of the Gelati Monastery Complex: 1) Survey of the Wall Paintings at the North-West chapel of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary - Technology, condition, physical History Summary of wall painting survey at the North-West chapel of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Graphic documentation of wall painting technology and plaster joins at the North-West chapel, December 2024 2) Survey of the Wall Paintings at t...

Wall Painting Conservation, March 2024

Main Objectives of the March 2024 Mission for the Conservation of Wall Paintings at the Gelati Monastery Complex: The primary goals of the March 2024 mission were to: Continue both non-invasive and invasive studies of the wall paintings. Monitor the condition of the wall paintings and the presence of salts. Stabilize critical sections of the wall painting. Initiate the development of methodologies for long-term physical conservation interventions. The conservation work was carried out by the wall painting conservation group of the Gelati Monastery Complex, under the leaders...

Gelati Monastery Complex, Church of the Nativity of Virgin Mary, Wall painting technology and condition report, April 2023 - February 2024

Gelati Monastery Complex, Wall painting conservation programme, Summary of the activities undertaken between April 2023 – February 2024 ...

Result of meteorological disaster of the 5-6 February, 2024 reflected on the Gelati Monastery Complex

Gelati Monastery Complex Condition report after meteorological disaster 5-6 February, 2024. ...

Wall Painting Condition Monitoring, December, 2023

Wall Painting Condition Monitoring, December, 2023 ...

Wall painting research and data processing. Gelati Monastery Complex, the Church of the Virgin, Main space, lower registers of the arms.

The aim of the November 2023 mission was determined within the framework of the general conservation plan. The objectives focused on: - Sorting/processing of environmental monitoring (climatic) data - Processing of archival photo documentation of the project (2020, 2021, 2022) - Exploring conservation materials and equipment needed for the project - Determination of methodology and location of recent interventions (based on archival materials) - Graphic documentation of technology and condition (III register) Accordingly, the provided report presents: - Locations and metho...

Non-invasive investigation and documentation of wall paintings at Gelati Monastery Complex, Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, Main Space, Upper registers. October 2023

A general plan for the conservation of wall paintings was developed in September 2023 by Lisa Shekede and Stephen Rickerby the international leaders of the Gelati Monastery Complex wall painting conservation team. The plan covers the following aspects: Salt research/monitoring Water (in liquid form) research Environmental conditions research and monitoring Original technology research State research and monitoring Planning physical interventions Implementation.   Since 2023, the work is in progress on the fourth and fifth points of the above-mentioned plan. As...

Non-invasive investigation and documentation of Wall Painting at the upper registers of the North, South, West arms of the main space. The Church of the Nativity of Virgin, Gelati Monaster Complex. July, 2023

The second stage of the preparatory/basic works for the conservation of the wall paintings of the Gelati monastery complex included: Description of the wall painting technology of the upper register (arch level) of the North, South and West wings of the main space of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and preparation of relevant documentation. The specific objectives of the project were based on visual observation of the target areas (using non-invasive research methods): The specific tasks of the project based on visual observation of the target areas (using non-invasive methods) i...

Condition Assessment and Documentation of Wall Painting at the upper registers of the North, South, West arms of the main space. The Church of the Nativity of Virgin, Gelati Monaster Complex. April, 2023

The state of wall paintings in temples is different. There are both historical and new damages. However, the state of the wall paintings in certain areas has especially deteriorated as a result of roof restoration intervention in the 2010s. In the 21st century, leakage of rainwater through roof tiling caused an irreversible process of damage to large sections of painting, along with complex forms of damage, important sections of painting were also lost.  2019-2020 monitoring and physical interventions (reinforcement) on the wall paintings were carried out in certain sections of th...