Restoration of the Hall of Colossus at the Accademia Gallery in Florence kicks off

On October 5, 2020, a major architectural-structural consolidation and restoration of the Hall of Colossus, the first large room in the museum’s exhibition itinerary, characterized in its central part by the imposing earthenware sketch of the Rape of the Sabine Women, a masterpiece by Giambologna, will be launched at the Accademia Gallery in Florence.

“I am very pleased to finally be able to announce the opening of this new construction site, which is part of the commitments I have made since I accepted the role of director of the Accademia Gallery in Florence,” said Cecilie Hollberg. “These are major works, which will restore the serious structural problems of the 18th-century trusses in the Hall of Colossus, and not only that. The interventions will also concern lighting and layout in order to make the most of the splendid paintings, which are hardly visible, preserved in this room that introduces the museum’s exhibition itinerary.”

From October, therefore, the Hall of Colossus will be temporarily closed to the public in order to carry out architectural-structural restoration with the consolidation of the wooden structures covering the hall. A restyling will also be carried out that will involve complete repainting and a modern and appropriate lighting system, designed specifically to enhance the works on display.

In a first phase, the paintings on display will be disassembled, resulting in a re-evaluation and documentation of their state of conservation. Targeted maintenance and, where necessary, restoration work will be scheduled, to be carried out by professional restorers as part of a specific plan managed and coordinated by the director and relevant officials of the museum itself, including Eleonora Pucci, head of the restoration office.

These works will then be moved to adjacent rooms, normally dedicated to temporary exhibitions, to allow, with a new arrangement, to be admired anyway by the public with special visits and modalities that will be announced later.

The Rape of the Sabine Women, the large altarpiece of theAssumption by Pietro Perugino, dated 1500, and the altarpiece of theImmaculate Conception by Antonio Sogliani, which are difficult to move due to their size and fragility, will be carefully protected with specially designed and built structures.

Operations related to the restoration site and consolidation of the wooden trusses will then begin, under the supervision of architect Claudia Gerola, and will last until July 2021.

Updates on the phases of the construction site will be gradually documented and communicated, making the public participate with a monitor that will illustrate the history and content of this section of the museum’s collection.

Restoration of the Hall of Colossus at the Accademia Gallery in Florence kicks off

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