Between 2023 and 2024, an extensive restoration project restored new splendor to a nucleus of extraordinary ancient works housed in the Vatican Museums, now visible in theAtrium of the Four Gates. Thanks to the support of the Florida Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, twelve statues and two marble sarcophagi with relief decorations, located between the Atrium and the vestibule leading to the Simonetti Staircase, have undergone a thorough intervention.
The cleaning and consolidation operation restored the marble surfaces to their original luminosity, while revealing traces and details that tell the long conservation history of each work, leading in some cases to unexpected results.
The project was modeled on the specific needs of each work, resulting in a “tailor-made” intervention capable of responding precisely to the various critical issues encountered. The work was conducted by the Kavaklik Restauro Consortium, under the scientific supervision of the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities and the Laboratory of Restoration of Lapidary Materials, with the specialized contribution of the Scientific Research Cabinet of the Vatican Museums.
“We renew our thanks to the Florida Chapter of Patrons of the Arts for their invaluable contribution to the conservation and restoration plans promoted by the Vatican Museums, in the common effort to safeguard the enjoyment and knowledge of an extraordinary heritage,” said Barbara Jatta, highlighting the importance of targeted conservation strategies.
“Coherent strategies, which often pose new challenges for the care of collections, are undoubtedly necessary to set long-term goals, achievable through professional synergy and the sharing of specialized knowledge in multidisciplinary work teams,” said Claudia Valeri.
“This was a very delicate job,” emphasized Guy Devreux, who calls it “the restoration of restorations” because of the difficulty of working on marble surfaces subjected in modern times to multiple integration, assemblage, and restoration interventions, even employing different materials.
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| Vatican Museums, restored with tailor-made interventions ancient statues and sarcophagi of the Atrium of the Four Gates |
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