The tapestry of the Beheading of St. George, made in 1552 by Johannes Karcher on a cartoon by Camillo Filippi and Luca d’Olanda, preserved in the Cathedral Museum of Ferrara, will be the subject of a major restoration financed by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers through funds from the Eight per Thousand of IRPEF. The Renaissance textile testimony is part of a cycle of tapestries dedicated to the stories of the city’s patron saints and is one of the artifacts housed in the Cathedral Museum. In 2022, following a review of its state of conservation and a photographic campaign conducted with the scientific coordination of the Civic Museums of Ferrara, conditions of degradation emerged such that intervention was urgently needed.
“We are deeply satisfied with this important result,” says Culture Councillor Marco Gulinelli. "The funding obtained through the announcement of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers represents a concrete recognition of the historical, artistic and identity value of our heritage. Thanks to this grant, we will finally be able to start a long-awaited restoration, necessary to secure a work of extraordinary value such as the tapestry with the Beheading of St. George. This is a fundamental step to ensure the conservation and enhancement of an asset that tells the story of the city’s main temple and deserves to be returned, in its splendor, to the Ferrara community and visitors."
The tapestry, which had already been restored in 2000, now shows obvious damage especially to the edges and upper and lower profiles, with extensive mending inconsistent with the original technique. The center of the work, although with less damage, is less compromised than the upper selvage, which is particularly deteriorated due to the fragility of the wool, silk and hemp fibers. Faced with this picture, in 2023 the Municipality of Ferrara, in agreement with the management board of the Cathedral Museum, decided to apply for the restoration to the national Eight Per Thousand grant intended for state management.
After a selection process that saw the project placed ninth in the national ranking, a total funding of 105,764 euros was obtained, which will fully cover the costs of the intervention. The restoration will focus on the removal of dusty deposits accumulated on the tapestry’s surfaces in order to restore the canvas to its original colors and decorative details that are difficult to read today. The complete replacement of the lining and the removal of previous restoration work, now compromised over time and with materials that are no longer suitable, will also be carried out. The intervention is part of a larger project to protect and enhance the cycle of tapestries with the stories of Ferrara’s patron saints, which represent a fundamental part of the city’s artistic and historical heritage. The restoration, agreed upon with the Cathedral Chapter, owner of the property, is part of a campaign to overhaul the museum’s holdings in view of the centenary of the founding of the Cathedral Museum, which will be celebrated in 2029. The work will start in the coming months and will be accompanied by a documentation and communication activity designed to involve citizens, schools and art lovers.
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| Tapestry of the Beheading of St. George in Ferrara: restoration kicks off with Eight Per Thousand funds |
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