Marche National Gallery, terracotta robbiana in need of restoration. You can contribute with Art Bonus

The Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, in collaboration with theOpificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence, will restore the Lunetta di San Domenico, a work by Luca della Robbia in glazed terracotta made in the mid-15th century.

Originating from the portal of the church of San Domenico, which faces the Ducal Palace of Urbino, the elegant high relief was moved inside the museum in 1973 when, following the restoration of the 15th-century portal, it was realized that its preservation could not be guaranteed due to exposure to the elements. Since then, the work has been located in the Sala della Jole, the first room one encounters when visiting the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche.

However, the restoration at the time and the work’s placement inside the museum have not prevented further conservation problems from appearing after 50 years. The gaps, particularly evident on the figures of the Virgin and Child, which are more exposed to the elements, were caused by the migration and recrystallization of mineral salts under the layer of glaze, which, driven by the pressure of the crystals, detached from the ceramic body. This phenomenon produced the fall of the finishing layer that now disfigures the valuable terracotta. To prevent further loss, it was therefore decided to take action to permanently remove the damaging salts from the ceramic body. This complex operation will be followed by consolidation of the detached parts and a pictorial treatment of the gaps to allow the work to regain greater legibility.

These interventions will be carried out thanks to the collaboration with the Opificio delle Pietre Dure and will require an amount of at least twenty-three thousand euros. Thanks to theArt Bonus, anyone can contribute to the restoration project by accessing tax benefits in the form of a tax credit. To contribute you can visit https://artbonus.gov.it/1958-galleria-nazionale-delle-marche.html. The reason to specify is “Art Bonus - Restoration of the lunette of St. Dominic.”

For more information, you can contact the Gallery by calling 0722 2760 or writing to gan-mar@beniculturali.it

Marche National Gallery, terracotta robbiana in need of restoration. You can contribute with Art Bonus

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