Florence, restored Tabernacle of the Linaioli in Orsanmichele

In Florence, the restoration of the Tabernacle of the Linaioli, the architectural masterpiece of the church of Orsanmichele that once housed the San Marco, an early masterpiece (1411-1413) by Donatello (Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi; Florence, 1386 - 1466), now housed at the Orsanmichele Museum and replaced in the tabernacle by a reproduction, has been completed.

The church of Orsanmichele in Florence was the church of the medieval guilds, and each of being commissioned, in the early fifteenth century, a statue of their patron saint, to be placed on the outer walls of the sacred building. The tabernacle was commissioned by theArte dei Rigattieri e Linaioli, that is, the guild that brought together tailors, weavers, fabric merchants, and dealers in second-hand clothes.The tabernacle was commissioned by two skilled stonemasons active in Florence in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, Perfetto di Giovanni and Albizzo di Piero, who executed the work between 1411 and 1413.

The restoration was unveiled on Monday, July 26, on the occasion of the Feast of St. Anne whose cult has been celebrated in the church of Orsanmichele since ancient times, in the presence of Bargello Museums Director Paola d’Agostino, President of the Friends of the Florentine Museums Ulisse Tramonti, and with the holy blessing of the Rector of Orsanmichele Monsignor Vasco Giuliani. The intervention had become necessary due to the state of conservation found during a recent campaign to overhaul the fourteen exterior tabernacles, and was fully funded by the Friends of Florentine Museums and Monuments Association and carried out during the fall lockdown months of 2020. Restorers Louis Pierelli and Gabriella Tonini (Nike Restauri Opere d’arte) were in charge of the intervention: the restoration involved the consolidation of disintegrated parts and the thorough cleaning of the marble aedicule and the copy of the statue of the patron saint, housed inside.

Also presented at the ceremony was a booklet dedicated to the restoration and history of the tabernacle edited by Benedetta Matucci, published by Polistampa with the contribution of the Amici dei Musei Fiorentini.

Florence, restored Tabernacle of the Linaioli in Orsanmichele

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.