Preserving Medieval Frescoes

This summer, join archaeologists, art historians and conservators as they document the beautiful but rapidly deteriorating frescoes from medieval churches in western Bulgaria. The team will visit as many as ten long-abandoned chapels and small churches in the region, nearly all dating from the 10th to 17th centuries A.D.

The churches were originally commissioned by both Bulgarian and foreign dignitaries at various points during Bulgarian, Byzantine, and then Serbian rule over the region. Most were abandoned or destroyed during the early Ottoman period. Although the churches themselves were typically poorly built with little attention to architectural details, they often hide exquisite frescoes depicting important Biblical episodes and figures. Because western Bulgaria is situated at the heart of the Balkan region, the frescoes also reveal a great deal about where the various medieval artistic styles of the region originated and how they spread.

Unfortunately, centuries of neglect and exposure to the elements have taken their toll on these important relics of medieval art. The project, coordinated by the National Academy of Art in Sofia, hopes to photograph, document, and study the church frescoes before it is too late. Participants will receive specialized training in the medieval history of the region and fresco restoration and conservation techniques. Project members will stay in cozy apartments in downtown Sofia.