After restoration, Schiavone's Adoration of the Magi returns to Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

From Dec. 6, 2024, to Feb. 4, 2025, it will be possible to admire again at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan the painting The Adoration of the Magi by Andrea Schiavone (Zara, 1510/1515 - Venice, 1563) after a restoration that took place at the La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Center. The widespread exhibition The Way of the Kings, which can be visited from Dec. 5, 2024 to Feb. 4, 2025, continues inside the Pinacoteca with three works: Adoration of the Magi by Titian, Adoration of the Magi by the Master of the Holy Blood, and Adoration of the Magi by Morazzone. The itinerary concludes in the crypt of St. Sepulchre with a selection of figures of Magi and three complete nativity scenes with Adoration of the Magi from the Dalmine Nativity Museum.

Schiavone’sAdoration of the Magi represents one of the pinnacles of the career of the Dalmatian painter and engraver, active in Venice between the 1640s and 1660s. The scene is dominated by an imposing twisted column that stands on the left behind the kneeling king with a devout gesture, intent on kissing the feet of the Child supported by the Madonna. The dynamism of the composition is reflected in the swirling movements of the figures, while the setting, devoid of precise naturalistic references, expresses a pictorial vision that transcends mere imitation of reality. Created around the middle of the 16th century, the work is an example of Venetian Mannerism. The grace and sinuosity of Parmigianesque models blend with the textural richness and vibrant chromaticism typical of the Venetian tradition.

Despite uncertainty about the origin of the commission, the entry of theAdoration of the Magi into the Ambrosiana’s collections is well documented. In fact, a letter dated November 23, 1612, sent by Alessandro Ambrogio Mazenta to Federico Borromeo, attested to the shipment of the canvas along with other Venetian works, which were destined to flow into the Pinacoteca six years later. The recent restoration provided a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of the painting and Schiavone’s execution techniques.

The restoration

The restoration of Andrea Schiavone’sAdoration of the Magi provided an important opportunity to learn more about both the history of the work and the techniques employed by the artist during its creation. Thanks to the extraordinary technical peculiarities and the complexity of the recovery work, the intervention was also included in a training course dedicated to students of the qualifying single-cycle Master’s Degree Course in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at the University of Turin, in collaboration with the Conservation and Restoration Center “La Venaria Reale.”

The restoration was supported by a thorough and structured diagnostic campaign. The use of advanced analytical technologies made it possible to thoroughly investigate Schiavone’s creative process, revealing, among other things, some of the artist’s second thoughts during the design phase and to precisely define the color composition of his palette.

The cleaning, carried out gradually and selectively, focused on the removal of yellowed paint layers, altered retouches and repainting resulting from subsequent interventions. This step made it possible to bring back the original painting, restoring its vibrant colors and authentic brilliance.

The subsequent phase of aesthetic restitution was mainly oriented toward restoring the visual continuity of the pictorial surface, interrupted by various color gaps. This process was also facilitated by the analysis of historical photographs of the work dating back to the first decades of the 20th century.

After restoration, Schiavone's Adoration of the Magi returns to Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

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