Restoration of Donatello's Gattamelata will begin in 2025, thanks to Friends of Florence and Save Venice

The Pontifical Delegation of the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, with the American nonprofit organizations Friends of Florence and Save Venice, will fund the restoration of Donatello’s equestrian monument to Gattamelata. The mid-15th-century bronze statue, which stands on the parvis of St. Anthony’s Basilica in Padua, requires urgent maintenance. Thanks to Save Venice, with lead support from Jon and Barbara Landau, and Friends of Florence, with support from Stacy Simon, work will begin next year that will include restoration of the equestrian monument, stone base and original reliefs.

Donatello’s Gattamelata is the first life-size cast bronze equestrian monument made since classical antiquity, built between 1447 and 1453. This masterpiece occupies a central position in the square in front of the Basilica del Santo in Padua, where the captain general of the Venetian army was buried in 1458. The diagnostic campaign revealed forms of degradation common to copper alloy monuments exposed outdoors, including “bronze cancer”: a corrosion caused by the reaction between cuprous chloride and water that produces hydrochloric acid, responsible for further degradation of the bronze surface. Probably because of the difficulty involved in casting an equestrian statue of this size, Donatello made the monument in 36 separate pieces, increasing the structural instability of the horse and rider. The base, made of trachyte and Istrian stone, has also suffered considerable deterioration due to exposure to the elements and the use of cement mortars applied in previous restorations, which are now damaged.

On behalf of the Pontifical Delegation, in the spring of 2023, restoration firm Nicola Salvioli carried out an initial cognitive survey of the monument. Close inspections included a thorough autopsy and microscopic inspection of the surface, endoscopy inside the bronze, and the opportunity for photographic campaign. Data regarding the execution technique and state of conservation of the entire monument were graphically recorded on 3D models from which a series of summary tables were extrapolated for an initial assessment of the state of Donatello’s work. The effort then continued with operational assistance to the diagnostic phases conducted by CIBA of the University of Padua on behalf of the Paduan ABAP Superintendency, identifying points of analysis and sampling material for analysis related to the most evident problems.

As part of the studies currently underway to develop the restoration project of the statue, a relevant aspect is the determination of the structural behavior of the monument, both to define its current state, both in static regime and in case of a seismic event, and for the purpose of identifying cautious procedures in the delicate phases of handling the artifact for the performance of further investigations aimed at restoration in a protected environment. The fragility and clearly visible signs of time have emerged in some portions of the statue, both due to construction methods and degradation, as well as possible past manipulations (e.g., the removals and repositionings that have already occurred during the war period), and it is precisely these areas that will need to be given special care specifically in the definition of the restoration project.

In light of the preliminary investigation stages, the restoration of the equestrian monument of Gattamelata and the plinth appears necessary and functional for the preservation of the work.

“On behalf of the Pontifical Delegation of the Basilica of St. Anthony, I express my deepest gratitude to the two Foundations, Friends of Florence and Save Venice, for the generosity with which they have chosen to support financially the interventions that will be necessary to take care of the equestrian monument of Gattamelata,” says Father Antonio Ramina, Rector of the Paduan shrine. “Needless to mention how Donatello’s work is one of the greatest masterpieces of Italian art, which deserves to be preserved for generations to come. Already it has been communicated that the future path requires the conclusion of analyses on the monument, in view of the restoration work that will be envisaged, building on what has already been accomplished by the Superintendency, the University of Padua and the Central Institute. It is with the hope that we can continue the dialogue between the different institutions that we hope to put to good use the resources that the Foundations will make available for this common goal.”

“For 25 years, Friends of Florence has been following the enlightened path of Donatello. During the programs we organize for our supporters, we often study and visit Donatello’s Gattamelata as an example of the genius of this artist whose art inspired entire generations of sculptors after him,” says Simonetta Brandolini d’Adda, president of Friends of Florence. “We are happy to return to collaborate with Save Venice, with whom we have already worked in 2016 on the anniversary of the 1966 flood. With the support for the restoration to the equestrian statue of Gattamelata, we can continue this beautiful synergy that sees us together again in the anniversary year for the first 25 years of Friends of Florence and 50 years of Save Venice. We are two foundations supported by donors around the world who care about art, history and beauty and are committed to safeguarding cultural heritage for present and future generations. We are immensely grateful to our donor and board member Stacy Simon, the sole supporter on the part of Friends of Florence, and we also thank the Pontifical Delegation of the Basilica of St. Anthony, the City of Padua and the Superintendency of Padua for their helpfulness and hospitality.”

“In over fifty years of supporting conservatory interventions Save Venice has had the privilege of restoring numerous works of art of international significance,” says Frederick Ilchman, President of Save Venice. “The next work in this long series-among the most celebrated sculptures in Western art-is Donatello’s equestrian monument of Gattamelata in Padua. Our organization has long been committed to the protection of Donatello’s work, having financed the restoration of his St. John the Baptist in the Basilica dei Frari in 1972 and, this year, further maintenance work. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Save Venice is now able to preserve extraordinary works not only in Venice, but throughout the Veneto region. We are deeply grateful to Jon and Barbara Landau, whose generous support enables Save Venice to partner with Friends of Florence to restore the Gattamelata , a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance.”

This de facto partnership will make it possible to execute the final design and thus schedule work to begin early next year.

Photo by Nicola Salvioli.

Restoration of Donatello's Gattamelata will begin in 2025, thanks to Friends of Florence and Save Venice

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