WYBRANE PROBLEMY KONSERWACJI I EKSPOZYCJI ANTYCZNYCH ZABYTKÓW RZYMU

Almost the entire area of contemporary Rome contains classical buildings whose fragments had been incorporated into later structures or whose relics remain concealed underground. The author discusses their conservation upon the basis of of selected different objects. Trajan's column, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, the Arch of Constantine, the Arch of Septimus Severus and the Arch of Titus are examples of large-scale marble historical monuments, subjected to thorough conservation during the 1980s. The differences between their present-day state are the consequence primarily of the threat posed by the pollution of the natural environment caused by street traffic. On the other hand, the subterranean complex of relics in Domus Aurea is damaged by moisture. In the case of the Colosseum, in which samples of the elevation have been cleaned, the author accentuates respect for patina and the authenticity of the monument, an approach characteristic for the Italian school of conservation. The article discusses the programme of conserving such archaeological complexes as the Forum Romanum, the Palatine and the Imperial Fora. In the latter case, an essential element of the programme was the arrangement of the Imperial Fora Museum in the Halls of Trajan. The author underlines the fact that new elements had been introduced into the classical structure of the building in such a way as to avoid dominating it. Plans for building a third line of the Roman Underground propose an exposition area conceived as a link between the stations and the archaeological protection area. The author considers the work conducted in the Capitoline Museum (i.a. a new showroom for the statue of Marcus Aurelius) and plans for further development, which foresee the creation of a whole district of museums in the environs of the Capitol. He goes on to discuss the expansion of Museo Nazionale Romano – a project for redesigning the main museum seat in the Baths of Diocletian, an exposition in the Planetarium Hall, and new departments in Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Palazzo Altemps and Via delle Botteghe Oscure (the Balbi Crypt) – together with building Ara Pacis, a new museum designed by Richard Meier. Summing up: effective in situ protection of classical large-scale monuments, especially marble objects threatened by atmospheric factors, has still not been satisfactorily resolved. This may be the reason why a network of archaeological museum expositions, conceived as an essential component of the contemporary town structure, is being created with such great consistency and impetus. The expositions aim at a an attractive and comprehensive presentation of architectural elements and works of art near the sites in which they were discovered and in connection with a display of relics of the buildings. In contrast to a tendency which originated in the 1930s, and consisted of isolating classical monuments and “cleaning” them of all later stratification, the present-day trend aims at showing the monuments within a complete historical context.