Objective
Europe’s cultural heritage holds an exceptional wealth of painted artworks that are increasingly at risk due to the inevitable effects of climate change. Fluctuations in humidity and accidental water exposure accelerate chemical and mechanical damage, leading to fading colours, weakened binders, and cracking. While previous research has often focused on the behaviour of wooden panels or canvas supports, the paint layers themselves remain poorly understood. Current models usually treat them as uniform solids, ignoring layer heterogeneity, porosity, and cracks, which significantly impact the diffusion of water into paintings.
The UMID-PCH project will fill this gap by studying how water, both as vapor and liquid, interacts with painted structures. Laboratory samples will be created with traditional and modern painting techniques (egg tempera, oil, and acrylic) and artificially aged to reproduce realistic surfaces and crack patterns. Their response to humidity changes will be monitored using advanced magnetic resonance techniques (NMR) that allow to follow water transport. Selected historical artworks will also be studied to connect laboratory results with real conservation problems.
Based on these insights, the project will develop a 2D numerical model of water diffusion in multilayered paintings, explicitly including cracks, porosity, and stratigraphy. This model will be made accessible to both scientists and conservators, providing a practical tool to predict the effects of different climates and conservation strategies.
By linking advanced science with real-world conservation, UMID-PCH will generate new knowledge and tools to better protect painted heritage against the growing challenges of climate change.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
00185 Roma
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.