Entirely reconstructed ceiling painted by Vasari for Palazzo Corner Spinelli in Venice

On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of Giorgio Vasari’s death, the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice will present on Tuesday, August 28, 2024, the extraordinary and never-before-seen full reconstruction of the wooden ceiling painted by Vasari for Palazzo Corner Spinelli in Venice, nearly five centuries after it was created in 1542-a feat until a few years ago considered impossible. Elements of the Corner ceiling had already been dispersed at the end of the 18th century and, since the 1980s, have been reacquired, in Italy and abroad, through the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Venetian institutes, primarily the Gallerie dell’Accademia.

This exceptional work was made possible thanks in part to a major research and fundraising campaign aimed at recovering the lost panels.

The Gallerie dell’Accademia presents the work, previously unseen in its entirety and restored in its parts for the occasion, in an entirely dedicated room alongthe Palladian loggia and displays it strictly on the ceiling, in an immersive environment intended to recreate the room in Palazzo Corner for which it was intended. Created in 1542 on a commission from Giovanni Corner, who belonged to one of the most influential and noble families in Venice, the work consists of nine painted panels: the five main ones depict the Allegories of the Virtues (Charity, Faith, Hope, Justice and Patience), while on the four corner compartments, which are smaller in size, the artist painted Putti with tables.

As early as the 18th century, the various compartments of the ceiling were removed from their original location and moved elsewhere; in the 19th century the pieces ended up in Italian and foreign collections. Beginning in 1987, the state began a slow but steady process of acquiring the compartments, beginning with theAllegory of Justice, theAllegory of Patience, and two Putti with Table, destined for the Gallerie dell’Accademia. In 2002, an additional Putto with table was added to the collection, along with theAllegory of Charity, from the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. The Allegory ofFaith and theAllegory of Hope, purchased in 2013 and 2017 respectively, completed the reconstruction of the Vasari ceiling in Palazzo Corner Spinelli with known compartments.

Several entities, in agreement with the Ministry of Culture and the Superintendence for the Venetian Museum Pole, have made this initiative possible. In particular, Venetian Heritage, which supported the Gallerie dell’Accademia economically and organizationally and financed the richly illustrated volume, published by Marsilio Arte, which traces the entire history of the work. In addition, The Venice in Peril Fund, the Venice Foundation, Vela S.p.A., MSC cruises, SAVE S.p.A, the Consorzio Venezia Nuova, and the Veneto Banca Foundation. With this in mind and regarding, in particular, the identification and recovery of theAllegory of Faith, the Italian Embassy in London has made the venue available to sign the purchase agreement.

Entirely reconstructed ceiling painted by Vasari for Palazzo Corner Spinelli in Venice

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