The Vatican Museums presented this Wednesday a major restoration project with laser technology of the frescoes from Raphael’s Lodgea long corridor located in the heart of the Apostolic Palace.
The restoration work will last five years. Laser cleaning will be used to avoid damaging this Renaissance masterpiece located in the western wing of the loggia, on the second floor of the Vatican City palace.
Of 65 meters long and four meters widethe loggia was designed by Raphael and decorated between 1517 and 1519 by his workshop for Pope Leo X (1513-1521).
It is divided into 13 sectionseach decorated with biblical episodes painted on the vaults.
Only to be seen by a few
The lodge is closed to the publicHey only those who visit the Pope (heads of state, ambassadors and high prelatesfor the most part) can access it.
Its last partial restoration was carried out approximately half a century ago.
The researchers noted that the frescoes and delicate stucco reliefs have a lot of accumulated dirt due to successive layers of animal glues, waxes and fixatives applied over the centuries, which have yellowed, trapping dust and hiding the original pastel tones of the work.
The project began in April and is expected to last about five years.
In total, more than 20 restorers from the Vatican Museums will work on approximately 1,300 square meters of decorated surfaces.
The initiative will have funding of 5.5 million dollars contributed by international donors, including the World Monuments Fundan NGO dedicated to the preservation of heritage sites of exceptional value around the world.
AFP Agency.
GML
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