Biodeterioration of Salón de Reinos, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain

Research on the Salón de Reinos, part of the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, Spain, reveals significant biodeterioration driven by microbial activity. The study identified 10 bacterial and 14 fungal strains from deteriorated paintings, with proteolytic and lipolytic activities being the most prevalent metabolic functions. While less common, some isolates also exhibited gypsum and calcite solubilization, as well as acid production. These findings highlight the complex interplay between microbial colonization and environmental factors like humidity in degrading historical artworks.

Jurado, V., Gonzalez-Pimentel, J. L., Hermosin, B., & Saiz-Jimenez, C. (2021). Biodeterioration of Salón de Reinos, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain. Applied Sciences, 11(19), 8858. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11198858