Biserica Sf. Nicolae - Albă - din București. Acțiuni principale privind conservarea și restaurarea iconostasului

Abstract

This publication presents the restoration of the iconostasis of the St. Nicholas–White Church in Bucharest, a highly significant artistic and historical ensemble, carried out between 2014 and 2016 by the Iorux Restorations team.

The monument brings together successive historical layers: the 1827 architecture, the 1873 mural paintings, and an earlier iconostasis dating from the second half of the eighteenth century, influenced by Greek Baroque sculpture. Over time, it underwent structural modifications, regilding campaigns, and repainting, including interventions by Gheorghe Tattarescu, resulting in a complex technical and aesthetic stratification.

Interdisciplinary research revealed original gold leaf, successive layers of schlagmetal, and rare historical techniques such as localized silver leaf applied under coloured glazes. The restoration aimed to recover the original visual unity by removing non-original layers, consolidating the walnut wood structure, and restoring the icons and carved decoration.

The intervention involved selective dismantling, studio treatments, and highly delicate cleaning operations, which made it possible to recover the original appearance of the iconostasis and re-establish its chromatic and decorative coherence.