Florence, Michelangelo's tomb in Santa Croce restored

Florence pays tribute to Michelangelo on the 550th anniversary of his birth with the restoration of the Buonarroti family tombstone under which the famous artist rests. The work, promoted by theOpera di Santa Croce and conducted by theOpificio delle Pietre Dure, has restored new legibility to the marble inlay, damaged by time and the 1966 flood.

The work will be presented tomorrow at an official ceremony to be held at 10 a.m. in the basilica of Santa Croce. To mark the anniversary, a triple laurel wreath will be laid at the artist’s memorial, in the presence of Cristina Acidini, president of the Opera di Santa Croce and the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno, and Culture Councilor Giovanni Bettarini.

A historical link with Santa Croce

The bond between the Buonarroti Simoni family and Santa Croce is deep and rooted in time. The neighborhood was the family’s, and right next to Michelangelo’s funeral monument, designed by Giorgio Vasari, is the family altar, founded in 1570. Opposite, set into the floor, is the newly restored large tomb slab.

The latter is a fine work of inlay divided into three panels of white Carrara marble, framed by a band of green serpentine from Prato. On the sides, two family coats of arms bear the curled shield with yellow bands on a blue background, the red lambello symbol of the Guelph side, and the letters L and X, granted by Pope Leo X in honor of Michelangelo. In the center, at the trapdoor, a decorative vase is depicted.

Numerous Tuscan stones were used: in addition to white Carrara marble, bardiglio, Siena yellow, Alberese stone, Maremma red, and fine Medici breccia.

The restoration: a delicate work of recovery

The work, over the centuries, had suffered damage due to wear and tear and historical events, including the devastating 1966 flood, which had compromised its stability. The intervention began with a thorough cleaning, followed by consolidation of the most fragile sections and plastering of the gaps. A particular integrative intervention concerned a large lacuna in the left panel.

The restoration was directed by Lorenza Alcaro, an official of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, with the contribution of the sectors of Mosaic and commesso restoration, led by Anna Patera, and Stone Materials, directed by Riccardo Gennaioli. Also fundamental was the work of the Scientific Laboratory, which conducted the diagnostic analyses to support the intervention.

The operation is part of the broader effort to preserve the artistic heritage of Santa Croce, which in 2018 has already seen the restoration of the monument to Michelangelo thanks to a fundraising campaign that involved more than one hundred donors from around the world. A sign of how much, centuries later, Michelangelo’s genius continues to inspire admiration and gratitude.

Admission to the 10 a.m. ceremony is by reservation www.santacroceopera.it, seats are limited.

Florence, Michelangelo's tomb in Santa Croce restored

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