I modelli in gesso della Collezione del Gabinetto di Disegno del Dipartimento di Architettura. Percorsi di conoscenza per una proposta di allestimento

The Scientific Collections of the Department of Architecture of Palermo preserve a patrimony constituted, beyond bibliographical material, from numerous drawings, prints, paintings, didactic tables and models in wood and chalk. In particular, the 103 chalk models of the “Collezione del Gabinetto di Disegno” are the subject of a study, still in progress, aimed at setting up the new Gipsoteca of the Department of Architecture in Viale delle Scienze. The paper presents the first results of a research about the preliminary investigations for the evaluation of the consistency and the state of conservation of the models in chalk and shows some guiding considerations for the preparation project. In addition, the ongoing investigation of bibliographic and archival sources will be able to accurately delineate the history of the different pieces present in the Collection and provide references to the original works. The preliminary operations to the models placement phase have proved to be a precious opportunity for a close examination not only of the formal and dimensional characteristics, but also of the material and “constructive” characteristics. The proposed “possible” set-up has as the purpose of exhibition aimed at knowledge, an opportunity for systematization - first with the other educational plaster cast collections of art and architecture of Palermo - in the awareness that the multidisciplinary sharing of knowledge produces an exponential increase in knowledge.