Arezzo, new lighting for Piero della Francesca's masterpiece, the Legend of the True Cross

The Legend of the True Cross, the masterpiece by Piero della Francesca (Borgo San Sepolcro, c. 1412 - 1492) that decorates the Bacci Chapel in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo, shines with new light: the Polo Museale della Toscana (which manages the site) and the company iGuzzini, a leader in the field of architectural lighting, have in fact equipped the frescoes with a new lighting system that intends to enhance the work created by the Tuscan master between 1453 and 1459 to illustrate some of the stories of the Golden Legend by Jacopo da Varazze (in particular, Piero, in the frescoes, tells the story of the finding and regaining of the wood of the cross of Christ).

The installation was designed by architect Antonio Stevan and was realized in collaboration with the director of the Basilica of St. Francis, Rossella Sileno: the goal is to enhance Piero della Francesca’s clear and luminous painting with special fixtures Palco on Low Voltage track (diameter 62 mm). In addition, compared to the old installation, the new one introduces solutions that minimize the visual impact, to meet the needs of visitors. What’s more, the intervention will allow a significant reduction in energy consumption, amounting to about 80 percent compared to the previous installation, thanks to the higher efficiency of LED source fixtures (with color temperature of 3500 K), as well as a significant reduction in maintenance costs. Finally, all luminaires are equipped with DALI drivers and a control system that allows different lighting scenarios to be managed remotely and via mobile devices when needed.

The new lighting of Piero della Francesca’s Legend of the True Cross is part of the Light is Back program with which iGuzzini intends to actively contribute to the enhancement and preservation of cultural heritage. Launched in the 1990s, the program has recently involved masterpieces such as the Pontifical Sanctuary of the Scala Santa in Rome (2019), the Tintoretto paintings at the Scuola Grande di San Rocco in Venice (2018), Michelangelo’s Pietà (2018), the Museum of the Satyr in Mazara del Vallo (2018), the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua (2017) and the Last Supper by Vinciano (2015), all of which have been given new light.

“It is a source of new emotion to be able to admire Piero della Francesca’s masterpiece, and its ’painting of light,’ shining in all its crystal-clear legibility,” says Stefano Casciu, Director of the Polo Museale della Toscana, “thanks to the lighting intervention that simultaneously enhances its forms, space and color. For this extraordinary result, I warmly thank the technical sponsor iGuzzini for its generous economic and cultural commitment that enhances the best of Piero della Francesca’s masterpiece, and the long and complex restoration work, among the most advanced in Italy and in the world, conducted by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and cultural heritage and tourism in collaboration with leading experts in the field, concluded after years of work in 2000, but which still remains a point of reference for the conservation of wall paintings made in the mixed technique of fresco and tempera and oil painting.”

“We are thrilled to have contributed to the conservation and enhancement of the magnum opus of a master of exceptional luministic sensitivity,” says Adolfo Guzzini, Chairman Emeritus of iGuzzini illuminazione. “With this project we continue our commitment to the research and development of solutions capable of enhancing places of great spiritual, artistic and cultural value such as the Cappella Maggiore of the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo.”

Arezzo, new lighting for Piero della Francesca's masterpiece, the Legend of the True Cross

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.