Conservation work on the ceiling of the Chamber of Cupid and Psyche in Palazzo Te, one of the most famous rooms in the Mantuan complex, will begin in the second half of July. This is announced by the Fondazione Palazzo Te, which announces the start of a conservation project aimed at protecting the pictorial and wooden decorations of the vault and lunettes of the room. The intervention, which will last for about ten weeks, is made possible thanks to the support of the Giulio and Giovanna Sacchetti Onlus Foundation, which has been active for years in promoting and safeguarding historical, cultural and artistic heritage.
“The conservation work on the ceiling of the Chamber of Cupid and Psyche is an important step in Palazzo Te’s Cinquecentenary program,” says director Stefano Baia Curioni, “a project that unites the important programmed conservation plan launched by the Fondazione Palazzo Te and the expansion of the system of partnerships that the Cinquecentenary allows us to pursue. We sincerely thank all those who make it possible,starting with the Giulio and Giovanna Sacchetti Onlus Foundation, to include Diamara Parodi Delfino, and the institutions that collaborated, the Municipality of Mantua and the Soprintendenza Archeologica delle Belle Arti e del Paesaggio for the provinces of Cremona, Mantua and Lodi.This private intervention in support of public good is a fundamental element of the ways in which our country’s culture can be regenerated.”
“I would like to thank Stefano Baia Curioni very much, who made me rediscover Palazzo Te, which I had not seen for many years,” says Giovanna Zanuso, president of the Giulio and Giovanna Sacchetti Foundation. “I had a very good impression of it, I think it is a jewel of the city of Mantua. As soon as I saw the Cameradi Amore e Psiche I thought that with my Foundation I would like to do a conservative restoration of this wonder. I hope that the result in the end will be fulfilling, and in the meantime I would like to give all my support and admiration.”
The Chamber of Cupid and Psyche, universally recognized for the richness and value of its decoration, is considered the most sumptuous centerpiece of Palazzo Te. Inside it unfolds a pictorial cycle inspired by theFable of Cupid and Psyche narratedby Apuleius in the Metamorphoses, also known by the title Golden Ass. The narrative unfolds along the vault and lunettes of the room to culminate in the central image on the ceiling, where the marriage between Cupid and Psyche celebrated by Jupiter is depicted. The scene, the result of Giulio Romano’s artistic invention, synthesizes the high point of the fable through a theatrical and dynamic setting, becoming the visual and symbolic fulcrum of the entire room.
The last conservation work dates back to the early 1990s. Since then, the ceiling has undergone inevitable physiological degradation, due to both the natural passage of time and the continuous use of the room by the public. The alterations found concern in particular the complex wooden structure of the vault, the pictorial films and the gilding that make up the decoration. The planned operations aim to intervene on each of these elements in an integrated manner, with the goal of preserving the quality and legibility of the work without altering its historical substance.
The Giulio and Giovanna Sacchetti Onlus Foundation has decided to support the project financially. The organization, which acts nationally and internationally, has as its exclusive purpose the protection, preservation, enhancement and dissemination of cultural, historical and artistic heritage. Its activities also extend to the promotion of scientific research and social solidarity initiatives, often developed in collaboration with public and private institutions. In this case, the Foundation’s contribution makes it possible to tackle a complex technical intervention, with spin-offs that go beyond simple restoration.
Upon completion of the work, expected in September, the ceiling of the Chamber of Cupid and Psyche will once again be accessible to the public. Visitors will be able to take a closer look at the refined decorations of the vault and lunettes, which stage Apuleius’ fable as reworked by Giulio Romano in a monumental key.
 |
| Mantua, start of the restoration of the ceiling of the Chamber of Cupid and Psyche at Palazzo Te |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
