Vittoriano sculptures restored: winged Victory and eagle shine again

At the Vittoriano, one of Rome’s most famous symbols, the restoration of the left flagpole, with the bronze eagle, designed by Gaetano Vannicola (Offida, 1859 - Grottammare, 1923), and the Winged Victory, by Turin sculptor Edoardo Rubino (Turin, 1871 - 1954), has been completed. The restoration project, sponsored by VIVE - Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia, under the direction of Edith Gabrielli, returned the original gilded finish of the bronze elements to the city and its visitors, bringing to light an important part of the magnificence intended by architect Giuseppe Sacconi.

Realized thanks to the contribution of Bvlgari, the restoration aimed to preserve and restore the legibility of the sculptures on the main elevation of the Vittoriano, a monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy. The project was carried out by Susanna Sarmati with the help of a team of expert restorers, who worked under the eyes of citizens and tourists thanks to the “open” construction site mode, made visible through a system of transparent scaffolding. The restoration revealed that the gold finishes of the flagpole and Winged Victory had been obscured by a process of bronze oxidation and subsequent repainting in a lemon-yellow hue. Thanks to the intervention, these layers have been removed, causing the original gilding to resurface.

The current week will see the dismantling of the scaffolding, culminating in the unveiling of the Winged Victory, allowing the Italian flag to once again fly atop the monument. Meanwhile, restoration work continues on Emilio Quadrelli’s Mare Adriatico fountain and other important sculptures, with completion expected by the end of October.

For those who would like to find out more about restoration techniques and learn more about the solutions adopted for the conservation of the sculptures, VIVE has organized guided tours of the site, allowing visitors to climb on the scaffolding and follow the progress of the work. The next appointment is set for September 12, 2024, at 10 a.m. This is a unique opportunity to experience up close the restoration of an invaluable artistic and historical heritage. Visits to the restoration site are free of charge and reserved for a maximum of 15 people per shift upon reservation by sending request to: vi-ve.edu@cultura.gov.it

“In architect Giuseppe Sacconi’s project,” says Edith Gabrielli, Director of VIVE-Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia, “the Vittoriano stood out to the eye for the chromatic balance between the whiteness of Botticino and the golden finish of the bronze sculptures and ornaments. Existing documentation, including a drawing dated February 1888, and analyses conducted directly on the works speak for themselves in this regard. However, the degradation caused by years, pollution and weathering had now hidden this finish from view. In full compliance with the methodological principles of Italian restoration, we decided to reinstate the image at the time conceived by Sacconi, restoring full legibility to the original gilding. Today everyone can see the first results of this work in the left flagpole. In a few weeks, by October, we will conclude the restoration of the second flagpole and the two monumental groups of Il Pensiero and L’Azione, by Giulio Monteverde and Francesco Jerace, respectively. I invite everyone to take advantage during this period of the free guided tours that, in the spirit of the ’open construction site,’ allow people to climb the scaffolding and watch the restorers at work. Several people have done so in recent months, including Carla, a kind and dynamic 78-year-old lady.”

Vittoriano sculptures restored: winged Victory and eagle shine again

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