Art historian Marco Ciatti, longtime superintendent of theOpificio delle Pietre Dure, a position he held from 2012 to 2022, passed away today at the age of sixty-nine. A prominent name in the world of art restoration, Marco Ciatti was born in Prato in 1955. He embarked on his academic career by graduating in Literature with a specialization in Art History. From 1980, he began a long career as an art historian at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.
Between 1981 and 1984, Ciatti served at the Soprintendenza per i Beni Artistici e Storici in Siena, before moving in 1984 to the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, where he held positions of great responsibility. Here, he directed the renowned Restoration Laboratory of Paintings on Canvas and Panel, as well as the Restoration Sector of Textile Artifacts. His passion and expertise in the field of restoration have been recognized at the academic level, where he served as Vice-Director of the School of Higher Education and Studies, teaching History and Theory of Restoration. In addition, he has served as editor of the journal OPD Restauro since 1997, contributing to the promotion of research and innovation in the field.
Ciatti has led the restoration of countless masterpieces, including works by Beato Angelico, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Raphael and many others. One of the most significant wasLeonardo da Vinci’sAdoration of the Magi . His dedication to the field of restoration is also evident in his involvement in organizing exhibitions and publishing specialized catalogs.
In addition to his academic and professional role, Ciatti has shared his vast knowledge through courses and lectures at numerous internationally renowned cultural institutions. He has served on high-profile committees in the field of restoration and has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field. Finally, as mentioned above, from 2012 until 2022, Ciatti held the important post of superintendent of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, further cementing his reputation as one of the most eminent experts in the field of art restoration.
This is how the institute where Ciatti worked for thirty-eight years remembers him: “With deep sorrow, the entire Opificio delle Pietre Dure gathers around the family of Marco Ciatti, who had worked at the Institute since 1984, later leading it as superintendent from 2012 to 2022, dedicating a lifetime to the OPD. For all, from time to time, Superintendent, colleague, friend, until the very last -to yesterday- he followed with passion ’his’ Institute, which in long years of genuine service he contributed significantly to grow. That is why we also like to remember him with a group picture next to Leonardo, one of the many celebrated masterpieces he restored.”
![]() |
Farewell to Marco Ciatti, for 10 years superintendent of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure |
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.