Siena, three stained glass windows from Ghirlandaio's workshop in the cathedral crypt once again visible

The three blown and painted “grisaille” glass windows, which were made by masters of Ghirlandaio’s workshop in the late 15th century, are now once again visible to the public. Recovered thanks to the Opera della Metropolitana di Siena, after restoration work carried out at several times by Camillo Tarozzi and more recently by Angela Nenci and Caterina Pavolini, owners of La Diana Glassworks with the collaboration of Cesare Valenti of MetalProject, they are located in the Crypt of Siena Cathedral.

The three polychrome blown glass works were made for the church of San Francesco in Colle val d’Elsa and then given to the Opera della Cattedrale. They arrived in Siena in the 19th century. They were mounted in the right transept next to the altar of the Blessed Sacrament and in the left transept next to the altar of Sant’ Ansano after an adaptation to the dimensions of the single-lancet windows by means of a colored glass crowning.In 1998 the one placed in the right transept was disassembled from the 19th-century frame and the restoration entrusted in 2001 to Camillo Tarozzi and then remained stored in special cases until 2019 when it was decided by the Opera del Duomo to restore also the one placed on the left transept entrusting the work to Angela Nenci and Caterina Pavolini, in collaboration with Cesare Valenti.

The complete restoration was accomplished using a temporary workshop, set up in the spaces of the Oratory of San Giovannino and S. Gennaro where the restorers and the blacksmith completed the very delicate work under the supervision of the then Superintendent Andrea Muzzi assisted by the official Letizia Nesi. Once the restorations were finished, it was decidedto musealize the works inside the Cathedral Crypt with the installation project entrusted by the Opera della Metropolitana to arch. Piero Castri of Opera Laboratori, who agreed with the Technical Office of the Fabbriceria on the construction of large metal frames designed to modify the top part, by calendering the master frame, in order to emphasize the harmonious proportion of the medieval ogive.

Ghirlandaio’s stained glass windows will be permanently visible inside the crypt from April 21, 2022.

The presentation and inauguration event to be attended by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Siena - Colle di Val d’Elsa - Montalcino Augusto Paolo Card. Lojudice, Opera della Metropolitana Rector Guido Pratesi, Siena - Colle di Val d’Elsa - Montalcino Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage Office Director Enrico Grassini, restorers Angela Nenci and Caterina Pavolini, and Opera Laboratori’s manager for the new stained glass display Piero Castri will be broadcast live on local television networks starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 20.

“The ingenious system conceived by all the workers of the Opera del Duomo and Opera Laboratori,” says Opera della Metropolitana Rector Guido Pratesi, “and the very high precision of the metal frames and counterframes will allow the execution, in total safety, of future maintenance work on both the polychrome stained glass windows and the backlighting system, the latter element being able to enhance the colors of the glass in a completely natural way.”

Siena, three stained glass windows from Ghirlandaio's workshop in the cathedral crypt once again visible

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